IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


A 


/J^. 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


^  IIIIM 

1^  IIIIM 

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IM 

2.0 


1.4 


1.8 


1.6 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(7 -1 6)  872-4503 


ih. 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/iCMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  canadien  de  microreproductions  hl^toriques 


6^^ 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attemptiid  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
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which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  changei 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


n 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couieur 


□    Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endomniagee 

□    Covers  restored  anoi/or  laminated/ 
Couveiture  restaur^e  at/ou  pelliculee 

□    Cover  title  missing/ 
Le  titre  de  couvertur 


jre  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  gdographiqui»s  en  couieur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  coul6ur  (i.ii.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couieur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relid  avec  d'autres  ctocuments 


i/ 


D 


D 


Tight  binding  may  Ciiuse  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

Lareliure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distorsion  le  long  de  la  marge  interieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
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have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout^es 
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mais,  lorsque  cela  dtiiit  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  iti  film^es. 

Additional  comments;/ 
Commentaires  supplementaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilme  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
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de  cat  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  r'u 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
una  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  una 
modification  dans  la  m^thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu^s  ci-dessous. 


I      I    Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couieur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagees 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaurees  et/ou  pelliculees 


I      I    Pages  damaged/ 

I      I    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


r~l    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
I !    Pages  ddcolorees,  tachet^es  ou  piquees 

□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  detachees 


HShowthrough/ 
Transparence 

□    Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Qualite  indgale  de  I'imi 


pression 


ndgal 

supp 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


I      I    Includes  supplementary  material/ 
I      I    Only  edition  available/ 


The( 
to  th 


D 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  cnt  6t6  filmAes  A  nouveau  de  facon  a 
obtanir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


Thei 
poss 
of  th 
filmii 


Origi 
begii 
the  l< 
sion, 
othei 
first 
sion, 
or  ill) 


The  I 
shall 
TINU 
whici 

Mapi 

diffei 

entirt 

begir 

right 

requi 

meth 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film6  au  tatx  de  reduction  indiqu^  ci-dessoua. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


e 
etails 

IS  (*U 

todifier 
T  une 
image 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

University  of  British  Columbia  Library 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  be.t  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'exemplaire  film6  ivt  reproduit  grAce  b  la 
ginirositi  de: 

University  of  British  Columbia  Library 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  4ti  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet«  de  l'exemplaire  film«,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimis  sont  film6s  en  commen9ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film^s  en  commandant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  de/nidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  iniage  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  —^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  pauvent  dtre 
filmds  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diff6rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  c!ich6,  il  est  film6  &  partir 
de  Tangle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et       haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombra 
d'images  n^cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


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3 

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4 

5 

6 

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ONTH 


SMBELLl 


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PRISTEE 


HISTOKY 


«F  THK 


.  AMERICAN  WAR, 


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OF  EIGHTEEN  HUNDRED  AND  TWELVE, 


FROM   THIS   COMMENCEMENT  UNTIL  TftE  FINAL  TERMlNATlC^ 

THEEEOF) 


■■SiiraS' 


^^     ON  THE  MEMORABLE  EIGHTH  Of  JANUAl^  l|  5, 


AT  NEW  ORLEANS; 


■*■< 


..":■% 


SMBELLISHED  WITH  A  STRIKING  LIKENESS  OF  04nB«AL  WSlLB^ 
AND  SIX  OTHER  ENORAVINOS. 


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PHILADELPHIA: 


PUBLISHED  BT  WM.  M<CA»TY. 


PRINTED  BY  M<OARTY  Sc  DAVIS,  S.  W.  CORNER  <>I  FtFTaj|3i» 

CHERRY-STREETS.  a 

■■■-—     '  1816.    '-      .  ■'"='  .:;^l'-  ^-'^-^ 


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VV"^ 

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Fso-js 

k(>G? 

DISTHIOT  OF  PENNSYLVANIA,  TO  WIT.' 

^     .£^  '■'^  ^£itf£itfB£/?£i>,  that  on  the  sixth  day  of 


*  *     Ayr        •       K    ^ ""'  '^'"**  ^'^  '"^  atxtn  aau  of\ 

:L-S.:    ff'^yyn  the  fortieth   year  of  the  Independence  ofl 

*  S    ^/ie  t/m/erf  States  of  America,  A.  D.    wCwiYr 


'«  ^^^rV^  m!  :1"^^'^'^"    ^^'^^^  ^-^  "^^^--  hundred  and 
^^  thereof  Ztf,         ^°'"'"/«^^^^'^^  ««^//  ^A.^/^a/  termination 

«  ^i  ^^^^"'^hed  imth  a  striking  likeness  of  general  Pike 

«  and  SIX  other  engravings.**  S^nerai  i-tke, 

enfuuT/"!'"i'!^  Vf'  T  '^*'''  ^'""^'''^  'f''^'  ^^ited  States 
inlTl    Z       JtMthe  encouragement  of  learning,  by  secur. 

nLtr      f'"'  f '"''^*'  '^^^'"'*'  '^'^^  *°<>^*  tothe.autLsanTZo 
fmetors  of  such  co/iies,  during  the  times  therein  mentVned" 

titid':jta::TT'''''^''  ^^^  -^^/.-.n..r/ro ::;;., 

entitled,      An  act  for  the  encouragement  ofleamine  bv  .^r.^J 

7nt:Ts:{hZ':''  ''t^  -^^^  *^°^*  to}h:z;L'si:z- 

metors  of  such  copies,  duHng  the  times  therein  mentioned  » 
and  extending  the  benefits  thereof  to  the  artsofdTs^nZ^n 
graving,  and  etching  historical  and  other  pHnt/:*^^' 

D.CALDWELL, 
Uerk  of  the  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


Introdu( 
Expedit 

dian  ( 
I  Invasiori 
Attack  < 

limac 

I  Policy  0 

Skirmis 

Battle  a 

i  Canada 

the  ar 
Massa'cr 
Charact« 
Cruize  c 

pursui 
I  Escape  ( 
Capture 
[Cruize  c 
I  Rodger'i 
Captt're 
Cai^  t'e 
Aifairs  o 
Battle  of 
Smyth's 
Military 
I  relieve 
Indian  e: 
March  tl 
Failure  c 
Expediti 
Second  e 
Relief  of 
Destruct 
Destruct 
Expediti 


CONTENTS. 


Introduction,  -  -  ... 

Expedition  of  general  Hull,  and  march  through  the   In- 
dian Country,  -  .  .  .  , 
Invasion  of  Canada,  and  reconnoitering  on  the  Thames, 
Attack  on  the  British  advanced  posts  and  Fall  of  Michil- 

limackinack.       -  -  , 

Policy  of  Britain  and  America  towards  the  Indians, 
Skirmishing,  and  American  supplies  intercepted,     - 
i  Battle  of  Maguago,.       -  -  .  . 

I  Canada  evacuated,  Detroit  summoned,  and  surrender  cf 
the  army. 

Massacre  at  Chicago,       -  *  -  -      "  _ 

Character  of  the  American  navy. 

Cruize  of  the  squadron  under  commodore  Rodders,  and 
I     pursuit  of  the  Belvidera,  -  -  .  . 

1  Escape  of  the  Constitution, 

Capture  of  the  Guerriere,  -  .  .      "     . 

Cruize  of  the  Essex,  -  .  . 

I  Rodger's  second  cruize  and  the  Argus,  -       ^     ; 

Capture  of  the  Macedonian, 
Cai^    i-e  of  the  Frolic  and  Wasp 

Aifairs  on  the  lakes,  capture  of  the  Caledonia  and  Detroit! 
iJattle  of  Queenstown,  -  -  .  , 

Smyth's  abortive  expedition,       -  -  .  ~   ' 

Military  ardour  of  the  Western  States  and  fort  Wayne 

relieved,  -  .  ,  _  ^ 

Indian  expeditions, 

March  through  the  wilderness  to  Fort  Defiance"       - 
failure  of  Tupper's  projected  expedition,  .  * 

I  ^xpeditioM  to  the  rapids  of  the  Miami, 
[ P  i^f  expedition  thither,  and  siege  of  Fort  Harrisor , 

Destn.rf inn '  W  ^f  f ^P^^^^^^"  ^S^^^^^  the  Peoria  te wns, 
iJesti  action  of  the  Indian  towns  on  the  Wabash, 

destruction  of  the  Indian  towns  on  the  Missisainewa, 

i-xpedition  against  thQ  Florida  Indiana,  v-r.;        .. 


PAOK. 
9 


10 

11 

12 
13 

16 

is 

19 

21 

23 
'24 
25 
Sf' 
27 
28 
32 
33 
34 

36 

36 

37 

40 

40 

42 

44 

46 

47. 

4t 


ly. 


CONTENT^. 


The  Bonne  Cittoyenne  challenged, 
Capture  and  destruction  of  the  Java,      -  -  . 

Capture  and  destruction  of  the  Peacock, 
Cruize  of  the  Chesapeake  and  her  capture  by  the  Shannon, 
Capture  of  the  Argus,  -  ... 

Capture  of  the  Boxer, 

Cruize  of  the  President  and  Congress,  -  -     ' 

Cruize  of  the  Essex,        -  -  -  .  . 

American  Privateers— The  Rolla,  and  the  Comet,     - 
The  General  Armstrong  and  the  Decatur, 
Battle  near  the  river  Raisin, 
Battle  of  FrenchtoTvn,     -  -  .  ^ 

Massacre  of  the  prisoners,     -  -  -  .     '' 

Construction  of  and  Siege  of  Fort  Meigs, 
Skirmishing  on  the  St.  Lawrence,     -  -  . 

Capture  of  Ogdensburg,  and  of  York,     - 
Capture  of  Fort  George,        -  -  .  ^ 

Oenerais  Chandler  and  Winder  made  prisoners. 
Capture  of  Boerstler's  detachment,    -  -  , 

Attack  on  Sdckett's  Harbour,      -  - 

Sodus  burnt,  and  second  attempt  on  Sackett's  Harbour, 
Attack  on  Black  Rock,  -  -  -  . 

Siege  of  Lower  Sandusky,  -  -  .  . 

Norfolk  threatened  by  the  British  squadron  and  bombard- 
ment of  Lewistown,  -  -  -  . 
Capture  of  the  Dolphin  &c.  and  action  between  the  Fox 

and  Adeline,     -  -  -  "_ 

Annapolis  and  Baltimore  threatened, 
Burning  of  the  villages  of  Havre  de  Grace,  &c. 
Attack  on  Craney  Island,      -  -  _  . 

Outrages  at  Hampton,  -  .  _  . 

Decatur's  squadron  driveh  into  New  London, 
Attempt  to  blow  up  the  Ramilies,  -  »  „ 

Explosion  of  a  torpedo,  -     '       -  -  . 

Capture  of  the  British  squadron  on  lake  Erie,     - 
Evacuation  of  Maiden  and  Detroit, 
Capture  of  the  British  army,       -  -  - 

Moderation  of  the  conquerors. 

Expedition  to  the  Peoria  lake,    -  -  .^  _ 

Inactivity  of  Ihe  army  at  Fort  George,  r 

Chauncey's  cruises  on  lake  Ontario,        -  - 

Engagement  with  the  Royal  George  under  Kingston  bat 

teries,         -  -  -  -  ,  .  -  107 

Engagement  with  Yeo's  squadron,  -  a-  -     109 

Yeo  cfeased  round  the  Jake,  ,     %     •  ,  1\0 


51 
51 

53 

56 

62 

63 

64 

67 

69 

71 

73 

7* 

75 

76 

77 

78 

80 

81 

83 

83 

83 

85 

86 

88 

90 

91 

91 

91 

92 

93 

94 

94 

95 
100 
101 
103 
105 
106 
106 


COVTENTi. 


Chauncey's  second  engagement  with  Yeo,  -  « 

Capture  of  the  British  transports,        -  -  - 

Movements  on  lake  Champlain,  -  «  - 

General  Hampton  invades  Canada.     -  «•' 

Wilkinson  moves  down  the  St.  Lawrence, 
Battle  of  Williamsburgh,      -  -  -  '  - 

Hampton  declines  a  junction,      -  -  -  - 

The  army  moves  into  winter  quarters, 
Evacuation  of  Fort  George,        -  -     '      - 

Fort  Niagara  taken,  and  the  Niagara  frontier  laid  waste. 
Events  on  the  Southern  frontier,  and  seizure  of  Mobile, 
War  with  the  Creek  Indians,  -  #  . 

Capture  of  Fort  Mims,  -  .  ^ 

Battle  of  Taliushatches,         -  -  -        .     - 

Battle  of  Talledega,        -  .  .  -  - 

Destruction  of  the  Hillibee  towns,     -  -  - 

Battle  of  Autossee,  -  -  •  -  - 

Expedition  to  the  Tallapoosie  river,  - 

Retaliation,  -  -  -  -  . 

Correspondence  on  the  employment  of  the  Indians, 
Remarks  on  the  army  and  navy, 

Breaking  up  of  the  cantonements  at  French  Mills,  and  af- 
fair at  La  Cole  mill,  -  -  -  - 
General  Wilkinson  suspended,                -            -     '       - 
March  of  Brown's  army  to  the  Niagara,        -        .    - 
Holme's  expedition  on  the  Thames,       -            -  . 
Situation  of  affairs  on  lake  Ontario,    -            -      °      #. 
Attack  on  the  towns  on  the  American  margin  of  th6  lake. 
Capture  of  a  British  detachment  at  Sandy  bay. 
Burning  of  Long  Point,               -            _            -            _ 
Capture  of  Fort  Erie,  and  Battle  of  Chippewa  plains. 
Battle  of  Bridgewater,            -            < 
Attack  upon  Buffalo,  .    -            - 
Siege  of  Fort  Erie,                 -            -            -            . 
General  assault  of  the  works,      -            -             -            - 
Capture  of  two  schooners  on  lake  Erie, 
Critical  situation  of  the  garrison  in  Fort  Erie,            - 
Brilliant  sortie,                ,.             .            „            . 
The  British  raise  the  siege,     -            -      ,      - 
Expedition  under  general  Bissell,           -r            -            '». 
M* Arthur's  expedition  towards  Burlington  Heights, 
Evacuation  of  Canada,           -            -            ^            - . 
British  depredations  in  the  Chesapeake,             *            ^ 
Movements  of  Barney's  flotilla,         -            -            - 
Measures  for  the  defence  of  Baltimore  and  WasI\i%ton> 


lU- 
lU 
115 
116 

iir 
1 2a 

120 
121 
12» 
123 
124 
125 
126 
187 
12« 
129 
131 
131 
133 
137 

1S9 

140 
140 
140 
142 
143 
145 
147 
143 
51 
*56 
157 
158 
160 

ieo 

161 
162 
162 
163 
165 
165 
165 


A 


VI 


CONTENTS. 


Vv 


Arrival  of  the  expedition  under  general  Rosa  ^   ^.a 

'^tlidln'L'^'^"'^""  »""  ''"'™"-  or   the  p-„b,J."" 


buildings, 
Retreat  of  the  British, 
Fort  Warburton  blown  up,  .       " 

Alexandria  plundered,  -  '  "  ' 

RJ^rnh'^i'''"'  for  cutting  off  the  retrea't  of  the'plundei^rs 
.         i:^d  Pe";r  .'"""!  ^"'^^  -mn.oj:!res  P^n^r 

Commodore  Rodger's  fire  ships,       "     .       " 
Defeat  and  death  of  sir  Peter  Parker,  . '    ' 

Dismissal  of  the  secretary  of  war, 

Attack  upon  Baltimore,  . 

Bombardment  of  Fort  M'Henrv,        .     "  "  " 

Retreat  of  the  British,     .  "  " 

Proclamation  of  sir  George  Prevost        '       .     "    '        " 

Repulse  of  the  British  at  Otter  Creek, 
Expedition  against  Plattsburg, 

Amcron^.h^%^"'^-'^  '^^"^^'-^^  °"  ^^^^  Champlain,' 

Re^eatTfP^evor"""''''^"^ 

Operations  in  New  England,      -  .       "  " 

Bombardment  of  Stonington, 

Proclamation  of  neutrality  towards  Eastport,"     .      "     . 
l^apture  of  that  place,  .  , 

Capture  of  Caatine,  and  destruction  of  the  Adams  frigate 

Expedition  against  Michillimackinac,    -  -       ' 

Destruction  of  the  establishment,  at  St.  Mary's: 
Attack  on  Michillimackinac,      .  .      ^  ^ 

Destruction  of  the  establishment  at  Nautauwasa^a,  ~  o  1 1 

Sta?Hff -^  '  •'  "l"^'."'^"  blockading  force  on  lake  Huron,  2  2 
Mate  affairs  in  the  Creek  Territory!  -  '  t\t 

Battle  of  Ecconachaca,                -  "          l\l 

Expedition  of  general  Jackson,  -            .     '                  c,\\ 

Attack  on  general  Floyd's  camp,  .             .                  t\l 

Battle  of  the  Horse  Suoe,      -  .                                "     l\l 

Treaty  of  Peace  with  the  Creeks,  -  .      '     .    222 


174 
176 
177 
177 
178 

179 
179 
182 
183 
183 
184 

189 
192 
194 
195 
196 
197 
197 

200 

201 

202 

203 

203 

204 

205 

206 

208 
208 
209 
210 
211 


•  ONTfeNTS. 

Repulse  of  the  British  at  Mobile,      -      .      . 

Proclamation  of  colonel  Nichols, 

Destruction  of  the  settlement  at  ^arrataria, 

Capture  of  Pensacola,      -  .  .  .  _ 

Capture  of  the  American  gun-boats  on  lake  Borirne 

Military  preparations  at  New  Orleans,  -  . 

Landing  of  the  British  below  the  town, 

Battle  of  the  23d  of  December, 

Description  of  the  country  around  New  Orleans,       "     - 

Operations  of  the  British  previous  to  the  8th  of  Januanr, 

Battle  of  New  Orleans,  -  -  .  ' 

Bombardment  of  Fort  St.  Philip,  -       "     .       ' 

Operations  on  the  coast  of  South  Carolina  and  Georeia," 

Cruize  of  the  Essex,  -  .  _  ^    ' 

Captain  Porter's  reception  at  Valparaiso, 

Destruction  of  the  British  commerce  in  the  Pacific, 

1  ne  Happah  war,  -  ,  _  _     ' 

Typee  war,  -  .  . 

Madison's  Island,     -  .  .  .  "        *.  ' 

Capture  of  the  Essex,  -  ... 

Sequel  of  the  cruize. 

Result  of  the  campaign  on  the  Ocean, 

Destruction  of  the  General  Armstrong, 

Peace  between  America  and  Great  Bntain, 

Its  reception  in  the  two  countries, 

Lessons  taught  by  the  war, 


vii 


nttel. 

«. 
III. 

IV. 
V. 

VI. 


DIRECTIONS  TO  THE  BINDER. 

i' 
Likeness  of  general  Pike,  to  face  the  title  page. 
United  States  and  Macedonian,  to  face  page 
Constitution  and  Guerriere,  to  face  page 
Wasp  and  Froiic,  to.  face  page     -        -        - 
Perry's  Victory,  to  face  page        -        - 
Battle  of  North  Point,  to  face  page 


.  Vl|,  Battle  of  New-Orleans,  to  face  page 


27 
?4 
28 
95 
192 
231 


A"*,  t 


R. 


HISTORY 


OF  THE 


AMERICAN  WAR. 

DURING  the  last  thirty  years  the  United  States  has  been 
increasing  m  population  and  wealth  in  a  ratio  unparalleled  in 
history  Within  that  period,  its  numbers  have  been  more  than 
doubled,  while  its  forests  have  been  rapidly  changing  into  cul- 
tivated fields,  and  flourishing  towns  and  villages  rising,  as  if 
by  magic,  m  th.  midst  of  the  wilderness.  These  blessinirs, 
however,  have  not  been  entirely  unalloyed.  The^apid  increase 
ot  wealth  had  introduced  luxury,  with  its  accompanying  evils, 
and  had,  especially  m  the  larger  cities,  considerably  sullied  oUr 
republican  simplicity  of  manners.  Our  extensive  commerce, 
^'  .^^^,^^b^«/»ed  us  with  several  of  the  European  powers. 

wh1rh"t  ^hT  V  ^'.'"  r''  '"^"^  '^^  ^^"-^t  ^^'  speculatio,; 
which  It  had  excited  in  almost  every  class,  has  undoubtedly 
had  a  demoralizing  tendency,  though  not  perhaps  in  the  degree 
attributed  to  it  by  some  politiciansf  who  have  placed  sofelHo 
that  account  the  want  of  public  spirit  and  nationality,  which 
has  been  charged  to  this  country!^    The  late  war,  whalever 

e^l'Tthlf  r'^'r  i'?^''<>^"--d,  has  certainly  checked  this 
eyjl.     It  has  raised  the  character  of  the  nation  in  the  eyes  of 

ioreign  powers,  and  erected  an  altar  of  national  glory  on  which 
^  n'artl  P^J^dipes  have  been  sacrificed,  and  polLkns  oTete- 

o^r^country    '''''''  '"^  '"^  ""^"^"^'^  "^^  ''^"^^^^  °^ 

A  formal  declaration  of  war  against  Great  Britain,  was  Da<5<i 
ed  by  congress  on  the  1 8th  of  June,  1812,  which  was  Trocfat^ 

wtoYet^aTtfe^t^I^T  '?".T"^  '^^^  At^M:^tIm1"he 
7r\^lt  A  r  ""  9^  ^^""'^^^  S^^tes  amounted  only  to  seven 
fe  I  '^^^  ^  ^^"^  '^^^P"  ^f  ^^r  ^«d  other  smaller  vesslls 
The  land  forces  were  next  to  nothing.  An  army  of  35  ooo 
men,  it  is  true,  were  authorized  by  congress  aS..nrpJ£?>? 
jyas  empowered  to  call  out  100,Jo  Sfa;  buf^^^^ 
cies  of  force,  though  strong  in  defensive  operatlnjn  offeni^^^^ 

wnere  a  comfortable  subsistance  is  so  readily  procured,  th|I 


'*-»^ 


10 


HISTORY    OF  THE  WAB. 


h 


f"' 


embodying  of  a  large  regular  force  is  far  from  being  the  wock 
of  a  day.  Besides,  some  time  is  necessary  to  change  the  hab- 
its of  men  from  civil  to  military;  men  brought  up  to  ease  and 
indolence  cannot  at  once  execute  the  duties  and  meet  the  pe- 
rils of  war.  Considerable  difficulties  were  experienced  like- 
wise in  finding  officers  fitted  for  command.  Many  of  the  re- 
volutionary characters  were  dead,  and  those  who  survived  were 
almost  too  old  for  active  service.  In  this  state  of  things,  can 
it  be  a  subject  of  wonder  that  the  raw  forces  of  the  United 
States^  headed  by  officers  who  had  never  seen  service,  and  ac- 
xompanied  by  rash  militia,  without  subordination,  should  ex- 
perience some  disasters  in  the  commencement  of  their  career  ? 
These  disasters,  however,  have  thrown  no  disgrace  on  the 
jVmerican  name.  On  the  contrary,  the  conduct  of  the  Arne- 
rican  armies  has  reflected  honour  on  their  country,  and  all  their 
reverses  have  been  occasioned  either  by  the  rashness  of  un- 
disciplined bravery,  or  by  the  misconduct  or  inexperience  of 
their  leaders. 

From  the  disadvantages  under  which  the  army  laboured,  the 
little  navy  of  America  M'as  entirely  free.  The  previous  em- 
barrassments of  commerce  ren  .ered  it  easy  for  our  naval  offi- 
cers to  supply  themselves  with  a  sufficient  number  of  seamen, 
and  with  men  too  who  hatl  all  their  lives  been  engaged  in  si- 
Tnilar  pursuits,  and  under  the  most  rigorous  discipline;  for 
we  apprehend  that  but  little  difference  exists  as  to  discipline 
and  general  habits  between  a  merchantman  and  a  ship  of  war. 

At  the  time  of  the  tieclaration  of  w  ar,  general  Hull,  gover- 
nor of  the  territory  of  Michigan,  was  on  his  maixh  through 
the  Indian  country  in  the  state  of  Ohio,  with  an  army  of  about 
2000  men,  destined  for  Detroit.  ^  In  the  preceding  month  of 
April  the  governor  of  Ohio  had  been  ordered  by  the  president 
to  call  out  1200  militia.  This  requisition  was  principally  filK 
ed  by  volunteers,  who  rendezvoused  at  Dayton  on  the  29th  of 
April,  and  were  shortly  after  placed  under  the  command  of  gcr 
reral  HulL  In  the  beginning  of  June  the  detachment  advan- 
ced to  Urbanna,  vvhere,  on  the  tenth,  they  were  joined  by  the 
4th  regiment  of  United  States  infantry.  The  following  day 
they  commenced  their  march  through  the  wilderness. 

From  Urbanna  to  the  rapids  of  the  Miami  of  the  Lakes,  the 
country  belongs  to  the  Indians,  and  is  entirely  destitute  of 
roads.  From  the  rapids  to  Detroit,  along  Lake  Eric  and  De- 
troit river,  are  various  settlements,  principally  of  French  Ca- 
nadians. By  the  treaty  of  Greenville,  concluded  by  general 
/iVayiic  with  the  Indians  iii  173  J,  a  number  of  trac  :•,  j^cncraily 
»4x  miles  square,  were  cetlcd  to  the  United  States,  which  form 


HISTOUY    OF  THE  WAR^. 


U 


chains  of  posts  joining  the  lakes  with  the  Oliio  by  the  course 
of  tnc  navigable  rivers  and  the  portages  connecting  them.  By 
the  treaty  a  free  passage  both  by  land  and  water  was  to  be  al- 
lowed to  the  people  of  the  United  States,  along  these  chains 
of  posts.  Forts  or  block-houses  have  been  erected  and  gar- 
risoned in  most  of  these  ceded  tracts  shice  the  declaration  of 
war,  but  at  the  t'me  that  the  country  was  traversed  by  general 
Mull's  detachment,  no  civilized  being  was  to  be  seen  between 
Urbanna  and  the  rapids,  a  distance  of  at  least  120  miles. 
4^  Towards  the  end  of  June  the  army  arrived  at  the  rapids, 
where  a  beautiful  and  romantic  country  suddenly  opened  to 
their  view,  enlivened  by  the  signs  of  cultivation,  and  by  the 
dwelUngs  of  their  countrymen.  Here  a  beam  of  joy  animated 
every  countenance,  and  gave  fresh  energy  and  fortitude  to 
those  who  had  undergone  with  difficulty  the  fatigues  of  a  march 
at  once  gloomy  and  oppressive.  On  men  who  had  just  emerg- 
ed from  a  dreary  wilderness,  unincumbered  by  a  single  hut 
reared  by  the  hand  of  civilization,  occupied  by  nought  but 
Indians  and  beasts  of  prey,  the  change  of  sceneiy  had  a  won- 
derful cflect. 

After  stopping  here  one  day  for  refreshment,  the  army  re- 
commenced their  march,  having  previously  loaded  a  small 
schooner  with  the  hospital  stores  and  officers'  baggage,  which 
was  dispatched  to  Detroit  by  water,  under  a  guard  of  a  lieuten- 
ant and  thirty  men.  Before  they  reached  Detroit  the  army 
were  informed  of  the  capture  of  the  schooner,  and  of  the  de- 
claration of  war.  On  the  morning  of  the  5th  of  July,  they  ar- 
rived at  Spring  Wells,  opposite  Sandwich,  within  a  few  miles 
of  Detroit,  where  they  encamped. 

As  general  Hull  had  received,  before  his  taking  command 
of  the  army,  discretionary  powers  to  act  offensively  in  case  of 
war,  the  invasion  of  Canada  was  now  determined  on,  and  the 
utmost  diligence  was  used  in  preparation  for  that  event.  The 
HDus  of  the  troops  were  repaired,  a  part  of  the  ordnance  found 
in  the  fort  at  Detroit  was  mounted,  and  every  exertion  was 
used  by  the  officers  to  impress  on  the  minds  of  the  soldiery 
the  necessity  of  strict  discipline  and  obedience  to  orders. 

On  the  12th  of  July  the  a;  my  crossed  into  Canada,  with  the 
exception  of  a  small  part  of  one  company  of  militia,  that  re- 
fused to  pass  the  river.  They  encamped  at  Sandwich,  a  little 
below  Detroit,  where  a  proci?mation  was  issued  bv  general 
Hull.  The  inhabitants  fled  in  the  utmost  consternation  on  the 
approach  of  the  army,  but  on  receiving  the  proclamation,  irst'^ 
ny  of  them  returned  to  their  homes. 

On  the   14th  a  company  of  militia  and  a  rifle  corps,  undef 


1.2 


lOSTORY   OF  THE  "W^AR. 


\tf 


ht 


III 


m 


colonel  M' Arthur,  were  detached  to  reconnoitre  the  countW. 
Fhey  penetrated  to  M'Gregor's  mills,  upon  the  river  La 
Tranche,  or  Thames,  a  short  distance  from  the  field  of  battle 
where  the  British  army  was  captured  fifteen  months  after* 
wards  by  general  Harrison.  On  he  17th,  they  returned  to 
camp,  having  Collected  a  great  quantity  of  provisions,  and  a 
number  of  blankets,  besides  a  considerable  quantity  of  ammu- 
nition and  other  military  stores. 

That  part  of  Upper  Canada  traversed  by  tne  detachment  is 
described  by  one  of  the  volunteers  that  composed  it  as  ex- 
tremely fertile  and  beautiful.  The  fields  of  wheat  and  Indian 
corn  were  remarkably  fine;  but  as  every  male  capable  of  bear- 
ing arms  had  been  drafted  for  the  defence  of  the  province,  vast 
quantities  of  the  whej^t  remained  ungathered. 

On  the  16th,  another  reconnoitering  party  of  280  men,  un- 
der colonel  Cass,  was  despatched  in  an  opposite  direction,  to- 
wards Fort  Maiden,  where  the  British  and  Indians  had  concen- 
trated their  forces. 

Maiden,  or  Amherstburgh,  is  situated  near  the  junction  of 

^    Detroit  river  with  lake  Erie,  about  thirteen  miles  south  from 
the  camp  of  general  Hull  at  Sandwich.     The  road  lies  along 
the  river,  and  crosses  two  creeks,  and  the  river  Aux  Canards, « 
the  latter  ah)out  four  miles  from  Maiden.     Cass's  detachment 

.  I'uund  the  British  advanced  posts  in  possession  of  a  bridge  over 
the  Aux  Canards.  After  examining  their  position,  the  colonel 
posted  a  company  of  riflemen  near  the  bridge,  and  forded  the 

'  river  abput  five  riiiles  above  with  the  remainder  of  his  force, 
with  the  intention  of  surprising  the  British  post.  For  that  pur- 
pose the  riflemen  were  instructed  to  commence  firing,  in  or- 
der to  divert  the  attention  of  the  enemy,  as  soon  as  they  should 
perceive  their  companions  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river. 
Unfortunately,  however,   being  entirely  destitute  of  guides, 

^  the  detachment  marched  too  near  the  bank  of  the  river,  and 
found  their  progress  checked  by  a  creek,  which  obliged  them 
to  make  a  circuit  of  two  or  three  miles.  This  gave  the  enemy 
time  to  make  their  arrangements,  and  prepare  for  their  de- 
fence. On  being  attacked,  however,  they  retreated  to  Mai- 
den, and  left  the  bridge  in  possession  of  the  detachment;  but 
as  colonel  Cass  had  received  no  orders  to  keep  possession  of 
any  post,  but  had  been  sent  merely  to  reconnoitre,  this  bridge, 
which  formed  the  principal  obstruction  between  the  American 
camp  and  Maiden,  was  abandoned,  and  the  detachment  return- 
ed to  camp. 

Meanwhile  the  main  body  of  the  Americans  remained  inac- 
tive at  Sandwich.     Not  a  single  cannon  or  mortar  was  on 


,". 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 

wheeis  suitable  for  the  attack  of  Maiden;  nor  was  it  until 
7th  of  August  that  two  24  pounders  and  three  howitzers  w 
prepared.     Previous  to  that  day,  however,  a  great  change    ad. 
taken  place  in  the  prospects  of  the  Americans.     The  news  of 
the  surprise  and  capture  of  the  island  and  fort  of  Michilli- 
mackinac*  by  a  combined  force  of  British  and  Indians,  which 
took  place  on  the  17th  of  July,  reached  the  army  on  the  28th. 
The  surrender  of  this  post  is  stated  by  general  Hull  to  have 
"opened  the  northern  hive  of  Indians,"  and  to  have  induced 
those  who  had  hitherto  been  friendly  to  pass  over  to  the  British. 

The  policy  observed  by  the  British  and  American  govern- 
ments  towards  the  Indians  was  of  a  diametrically  opposite  com- 
plexion. The  American  government  did  every  thing  in  its 
power  to  civilize  those  unfortunate  tribes  who  live  within 
their  limits,  and  to  introduce  among  them  the  practice  of  agri- 
culture and  the  mechanic  arts,  with  a  view  to  wean  them  from 
the  hunter  state,  a  state  which  is  becoming  daily  more  pre- 
cai-ious  and  unprofitable  from  the  increase  of  the  population 
of  the  country,  and  which  renders  them  extremely  dangerous 
neighbours.  The  policy  of  the  British,  on  the  contrary,  is  to 
keep  them  in  their  hunter  state,  by  which  they  not  only  sup- 
ply a  lucrative  branch  of  trade,  but  furnish  a  powerful  weapon 
in  war.  It  is  not^o  be  wondered  at,  then,,  that  the  Indians, 
who  delight  in  warfare,  and  all  of  whose  habits  are  averse 
froiT^  the  pursuits  of  civilized  life,  should  cling  to  the  British, 
and  shonld  view  -^he  Americans,  from  theii  tapid  increase  of" 
population  and  strength,  witlt  jealousy  and  dislike.  From 
this  cause  Canada  has  ever  been  a  thorn  in  the  side  of  the 
United  States.  While  in  possession  of  the  French,  by  whom 
it  was  originally  settled,  the  most  powerful  efforts  were  made 
by  the  British  and  provincial  troops  to  gain  possession  of  the 
country. 

In  the  French  war  of  1756,  after  three  wholly  disastrous 
campaigns,  and  one  of  mingled  disaster  and  success,  the  Ame- 
ricans, assisted  by  powerful  British  aid,  at  last  succeeded  in 


*  MichiUitnackinac^  or  Mdkina^  is  a.  small  island:  situated  in 
the  evtrance  of  the  strait  bettveen  lakes  Hw^on  and  Michigan. 
The  fort  is  the  most  northern  military  post  in  the  United  States,. 
Here  a  great  fair  was  annually  held,  firevious  to  the  %ffar,  which 
was  firinci/ially  frequented  by  the  Indian  traders  and  the  jtier- 
cJiants  of  Montreal,  for  the  fiurfiose  of  exchanging  the  fieltrieat 

tf  the  unei-iiilir/'A    f^nnntti^    /ii*.    *i.>.  «».,««^../t,^*,..— „_    _,r  r> *%  .. 

;-    _        -  ' — ^^     r»^j»v.-5-„-   jvt      an,    enit.-iii/tii.liil  ^g     VJ,    yjirCiii   JSTi^- 


tain. 


% 


1 


14 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


'h.i 


t    -i 


kik 


i 


-uniting  Canada  to  the  British  dominions,  and  thereby  restoring 
peace  to  their  harrassed  frontiers.  The  same  complaints 
against  the  possessors  of  Canada  for  exciting  the  Indians  to 
hostility  were  urged  in  those  days,  that  have  been  repeated 
against  their  successors  the  British,  and  by  none  was  the  use 
of  this  weapon  more  reprobated  than  by  those  who  lately  em- 
ployed it.  Such  is  the  different  lights  in  which  a  subject  ap- 
pears when  it  operates  for  or  against  us  ! 

By  the  fall  of  Michillimackinac,  the  junction  of  the  Indians, 
and  the  reinforcements,  both  of  militia  and  regulars,  which  the 
inactivity  of  the  Americans  enabled  the  British  to  collect  for 
the  defence  of  Maiden,  it  soon  became  evident  that  no  effective 
measures  towards  the'  reduction  of  Canada  could  be  undertak- 
Qn  by  this  army. 

Several  skirmishes  happened  between  reconnoitering  parties 
of  the  Americans  and  the  Indian  and  British  advanced  posts 
towards  the  end  of  July  and  in  the  beginning  of  August,  in 
which  both  sides  claimed  the  victory.  Most  of  these  skirmish- 
es took  place  near  the  river  Aux  Canards.  By  these  parties  it 
was  discovered  that  the  bridge  over  that  river  had  been  taken 
up  by  the  British,  except  the  sleepers ;  that  a  battery  waa 
erected  at  one  end  of  it ;  and  that  the  Queen  Charlotte,  which 
carried  eighteen  24  pounders,  \^y  in  the  Detroit  river,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Aux  Canards,  about  a  mile  from  the  bridge, 
with  a  gun-boat  cruizing  round  her. 

In  the  mean  time  the  Indians  had  crossed  the  Detroit,  and 
cut  off  the  communication  of  the  American  army  with  the 
gtate  of  Ohio,  on  which  they  depended  for  supplies.  As  a. 
small  reinforcement  of  volunteer^,  with  a  quantity  of  provi- 
sions for  the  army  was  daily  expected  by  this  route,  a  corps 
of  200  men  was  detached  on  the  4ch  of  August  to  open  the 
communication.  This  detachment  fell  into  an  ambuscade 
which  was  formed  by  the  Indians  at  Brownstown,  where  they 
were  totally  defeated,  and  returned  to  camp  without  effecting 
the  object  of  their  expedition.  About  the  same  time  an  ex- 
press arrived  from  general  Hall,  the  American  commander  on 
the  Niagara  frontier,  stating  that  there  was  no  prospect  of  a 
co-operation  from  that  quarter. 

It  being  indispersably  necessary  to  open  the  communication 
with  Ohio,  general  Hull  resolved  to  suspend  the  operations 
against  Maiden,  and  to  concentrate  the  main  force  of  the  army 
9l  Detroit.  Unwilling,  however,  to  abandon  the  inhabitants 
of  Upper  Canada,  many  of  whom  had  accepted  his  protection 

' 1 ^1. 1 ^ 1 j._ui:_u^j  _  ri>.^_« aU^  i.„«i.„ 

unacr  liic  pruciaiiiuuuii,   iic  csLuuiisiicu  u.  lui  ticas  uii  tuc  unns^s 

•of  the  river,  a  little  above  Sandvich^  where  he  left  a  garrison 


I 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR 


15. 


r  restoring 
:omplaints 
Indians  to 
I  repeated 
as  the  use 
lately  em- 
lubject  ap- 

le  Indians, 
,  which  the 
collect  for 
lo  effective 
undertak- 
ing parties 
need  posts 
\ugust,  in 
i  skirmish- 
e  parties  it 
been  taken 
)attery  waa 
which 
at  the 
bridge, 


3tte, 

,'er, 

he 


etroit,  and 
Y  with  the 
ies.  As  a. 
y  of  provi- 
te,  a  corps 
:o  o^en  the 
ambuscade 
where  they 
It  effecting 
ime  an  ex- 
imander  on 
Dspect  of  a 

munication 

operations 

af  the  army 

inhabitants 

protection 

;  a  garrison 


of  300  men.  The  remainder  of  the  army  recrosscdthe  rircp, 
and  encamped  at  Detroit,  on  the  evening  of  the  7th  and  the 
morning  of  the  8th  of  August. 

In  pursuance  of  the  object  of  opening  the  communication, 
600  men  were  immediately  detached  under  lieutenant-colonel 
Miller.  This  detachment  consisted  principally  of  the  regular 
troops,  and  a  corps  of  artillerists,  with  one  six  pounder  and  a 
howitzer,  a  small  body  of  cavalry,  and  detachmentSt  from  the 
Ohio  and  Michigan  volunteers.  They  marched  from  Detroit 
©n  the  8th  of  August,  and  on  the  9th,  about  4  P.  M.  the  van 
guard  was  fired  upon  by  an  extensive  line  of  British  and  In- 
dians, at  the  lower  part  of  Maguago,  about  14  m^es  from  De- 
troit. The  van  guard  maintained  their  position  in  a  most  gal- 
lant manner,  under  a  very  heavy  fire,  until  the  line  was  formed, 
when  the  whole  except  the  rear  guard,  was  brought  into  action. 
The  enemy  were  formed  behind  a  temporary  breast  work  of 
logs,  the  Indians  extending  in  a  thick  wood  on  their  left.  The 
Americans  advanced  till  within  a  small  distance  of  the  ene- 
my, where  they  made  a  geheral  discharge,  and  then  proceed- 
ed with  charged  bayonets.  The  enemy  maintained  their  po- 
sition till  forced  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  when  they  com- 
menced a  retreut.  They  were  pursued  in  the  most  vigorous 
manner,  about  two  miles,  when  the  pursuit  was  discontinued  on 
account  of  the  fatigue  of  the  troops,  the  approach  of  evening, 

and  the  necessity  of  returning  to  take  care  of  the  wounded. 

The  Indians  in  this  battle  were  under  the  command  of  Tecum- 
seh,  and  are  said  to  have  fought  with  great  obstinacy. 

The  British  regulars  and  volurU^eers  in  this  action  are  stated 
lih  general  Hull's  despatch  to  have  amounted  to  400,  with  a 
larger  niimber  of  Indians:  the  Americans  were  600  in  number. 
The  American  loss  was  18  killed,  and  64  wounded:  the  loss  of 
^he  British  was  not  ascertained.  Four  of  their  regulars  were 
^  adc  prisoners,  who  stated  that  the  commander,  major  Muir, 
•and  two  subalterns,  were  wounded,  and  that  1 5  were  killed  and 
wounded  of  the  41st  regiment;  and  as  the  militia  and  vohm- 
teers  were  in  the  severest  part  of  the  action,  thtir  loss  must 
have  been  much  greater.  About  40  Indians  were  found  dead 
©n  the  field;  and  Tecumseh,  their  leader,  was  slightly  wounded| 
the  number  of  wounded  Indians  was  not  ascertained. 

Nothing,  however,  but  honour  was  gained  by  this  victory. 
The  comnmnication  Avas  opened  no  farther  than  the  p  . .  xs  of 
their  bayonets  extended;  and  the  necessary  care  of  the  sick  and 
wounded,  and  a  severe  storm  of  rain,  rendered  their  return  to 
,...„„^j,  isi«i:ri^-x,ii3aL;iy  j.^.j^„„„„j.„_  Aioat8>  nati  been  sent  irom  De- 
tBOit  to  transport  thp  wounded  thither  by  water;  but  th«  ftttem^ 


1^ 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAK. 


t4 


Ifi  ' 


■J' 


r  ^^r 


was  found  impracticable     The  boats  being  descried  from  Ma!-* 
den,  the  Hunter  and  Queen  Charlotte  were  despatched  in  pur- 
suit, and  they  were  forced  to  convey  the  wounded  from  the 
boats  into  the  woods,  and  there  leave  them  until  waggons  could 
be  procured  from  Detroit. 

It  was  now  determined  entirely  to  abandon  Canada,  and  ac- 
cordingly the  fort  at  Sandwich  was  cacuated  and  destroyed. 

Suspicious  of  treachery  in  the  general,  which  had  begun  to 
arise  immediately  after  the  return  of  the  army  to  D  3troit,  had 
now  become  very  prevalent  among  the  troops.  A  letter  was 
written  to  governor  Meigs  of  Ohio,  by  five  of  the  principal  of- 
ficers, begging.him  instantly  to  make  every  effort  to  open  the 
communication,  and  informing  him  of  their  fears  and  suspi- 
cions. 

On  the  14th  of  August  another  attempt  was  made  to  pene- 
trate to  the  river  Raisin,  where  it  was  understood  the  detach- 
ment from  Ohio  had  arrived  with  the  provisions.  Colonels. 
M' Arthur  and  Cass  selected  400  of  the  most  effective  men, 
and  set  off  by  an  upper  route  through  the  woods.  The  same 
day  the  Bi'itish  began  to  erect  batteries  opposite  Detroit. 

On  the  15th,  general  Brock  despatched  two  officers  with  a 
flag  of  truce,  from  Sandwich,  which  had  previously  been  taken 
possession  of  by  the  British,  requiring  the  surrender  of  Fort 
Detroit  to  the  arms  of  his  Britannic  majesty,  and  threatening 
that  the  Indians  would  be  beyond  his  controul  the  moment  the 
contest  commenced.  General  Hull,  in  his  answer,  replied, 
,that  he  was  reaHy  to  meet  any  force  which  might  be  at  his  dis- 
posal, and  any  consequences  which  might  result  from  his  exer- 
tion of  it.  On  the  return  of  the  flag  of  truce,  the  British  com- 
menced a  fire  upon  Detroit  from  their  batteries,  which  was  vi- 
gorously returned  from  the  American  fort.  The  British  con- 
tinued to  fire  and  throw  shells  till  10  o'clock  that  night,  and  at 
break  of  day  the  firing  was  renewed  on  both  sides. 

During  the  night  the.  ships  of  war  had  moved  up  the  river 
nearly  as  high  as  Detroit,  and  the  British  and  Indians  landed 
under  cover  of  their  guns,  and  were  advancing  towards  the 
fort,  when  general  Hull  ordered  a  white  flag  to  be  hoisted,  and 
the  firing  to  be  discontinued.  The  firing  from  the  opposite 
side  was  immediately  stopt,  and  a  parley  was  held,  when  arti- 
cles of  capitulation  were  agreed  upon,  by  which  fort  Detroit 
with  all  the  troops,  regulars  as  well  as  militia,  with  all  the  pub- 
lic stores,  arms,  and  every  thing  else  of  a  public  nature,  were 
surrendered  to  the  British  The  militia  and  volunteers  were 
to  be  permitted  to  go  home,  on  condition  of  not  serving  again 
UU  exchanged.    The  detachment  wHh  the  provisions  aVthc 


river  Raisi 
jent  to  me( 
lated  that 
ihould  be  : 
Shortly 
letachmen 
[he  river  F 
former  on( 
pey  learnt 
^as  detern 
]n  the  evei 
formed  the 
then  marc) 
citadel. 

The  day 
fer  arrive c 
\he  commc 
)itulation, 
lis  force  \\ 
were  con  si 
put  into  co; 
♦oldiers  wl 
troit,  a  coi 
proper  to  1 
no  right  t( 
by  his  acts 
to  Ohio,  ar 
ssible.  1 
er  to  desi 
there  w 
i^fuge  in 
lemoved,  1 
me  destru 
Smore  rigic 
of  the  cou: 
t|achment  i 
}  Twenty 
e  hands 
ieces  whi 
ay,  35  yei 
ve  hundr 
mmunitic 
The  rea 
nder,  we 
nemy,  joi 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


17 


are,  were 
eers  were 


river  Raisin,  and  that  under  colonel  M' Arthur,  which  had  been 
sent  to  meet  it,  were  included  in  the  surrender.  It  was  stipu- 
lated that  private  persons  anu  property  of  every  description 
should  be  respected. 

Shortly  after  this  capitulation  took  place,  colonel  M'Arthur-*s 

letachment  returned  to  Detroit,  their  attempt  to  penetrate  to 

le  river  Raisin  having  proved  equally  unsuccessful  with  the 

former  ones.     When  they  arrived  within  a  mile  of  that  place, 

learnt  its  surrender,  on  which  a  council  was  held,  when  it 

ras  determined  to  send  an  officer  to  the  fort  with  a  flag  of  truce. 

tn  the  evening  he  returned  with  two  Britisii  officers,  who  in- 

)rmed  them  that  they  were  prisoners  of  war.  The  detachment 

[hen  marched  to  Detroit,  where  they  stacked  their  arms  on  the 

;itadel. 

The  day  following  the  surrender  of  the  army,  a  British  offi- 
cer arrived  at  the  river  Raisin,  and  delivered  to  captain  Brush, 
commander  of  the  detachment  from  Ohio,  copies  of  the  ca- 
)itulation,  and  of  a  letter  from  colonel  M' Arthur,  stating  that 
lis  force  was  included  in  the  surrender.     At  first  these  papers 
rere  considered  fofgeries,  and  the  officer  and  his  party  were 
)ut  into  confinement;  but  their  truth  being  confirmed  by  several 
foldiers  who  had  made  their  escape  from  the  garrison  at  De- 
roit,  a  council  of  the  officers  was  held  to  consider  what  was 
boper  to  be  done.  This  council  decided  that  general  Hull  had 
lo  right  to  capitulate  for  them,  and  that  they  were  not  boulid 
his  acts;  and  they  accordingly  concluded  instantly  to  return 
Ohio,  and  to  carry  with  them  all  the  public  property  that  was 
)ssible.  It  was  determined,  however,  that  it  would  be  impro- 
[er  to  destroy  those  public  stores  that  could  not  be  carried  off, 
there  were  a  number  of  American  families  who  had  taken 
ifuge  in  the  fort,  and  some  soldiers  who  were  too  sick  to  be 
jmoved,  had  to  be  leffbehind.  It  was  likewise  conceived,  that 
le  destruction  of  the  stores  might  induce  the  enemy  to  deal 
Hore  rigidly  with  the  garrison  at  Detroit.     These  resolutions 
'  the  council  were  immediately  carried  into  effect,  and  the  de- 
ichment  returned  to  the  settlements. 
Twenty-five  pieces  of  iron  and  8  of  brass  ordnance  fell  intp 
le  hands  of  the  British  at  Detroit;  several  of  the  latter  being 
[ieces  which  had  been  surrendered  by  Burgoyne  on  the  same 
lay,  35  years  before,  viz.  the  16th  of  August,  1777.     Twenty- 
jve  hundred  muskets  and  rifles,  and  a  considerable  quantity  of 
imunition  likewise  fell  into  their  hands 
The  reasons  stated  by  general  Hull  for  this  unfortunate  sur- 
;nder,  were,  the  great  inferiority  of  his  force  to  thgt  of  the 
lemy,  joined  to  the  numerous  band  of  Indians,  who  were  daily* 


JX"^ 


1ft 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


1^ 


ill 


increaring  in  numbei';  the  hazardous  situation  in  which  tiie  dc* 
tachment  under  colonels  M' Arthur  and  Cass  was  placed ;  and 
the  iinpossibility  of  furnishing  his  army  with  the  necessary  sup- 
plies of  provisions,  military  stores,  clothing,  and  comforts  for 
the  sick,  on  pack  horses,  through  a  wilderness  of  200  miles, 
filled  with  hostile  savages.  The  contest,  he  observes,  could  not 
have  been  sustjiincd  more  than  a  day  for  the  want  of  powder, 
and  but  r  very  t'  \v  days  for  the  want  of  provisions.  "A large 
portion,"  continues  he,  "  of  the  brave  and  gallant  officers  and 
men  I  c&mmunded,  would  cheerfully  have  contested  until  the 
last  cartridge  had  been  expended,  and  tiie  bayonets  worn  to  the 
sockets.  I  could  not  consent  to  the  useless  sacrifice  of  such 
brave  men,  when  I  knew  it  was  impossible  for  me  to  sustain  I 
my  situation." 

The  disasters  accompanying  this  expedition  did  not  end  here. 
On  the  change  of  prospects  in  general  Hull's  army  in  Canada, 
a  messenger  was  despatched  to  Chicago,  or  fort  Dearborn,  sit- 
utated  near  the  south-west  corner  of  lake  Michigan,  with  or- 
ders to  captain  Heaid  to  evacuate  that  post,  and  proceed  with  i 
his  command,  which  consisted  of  66  men,  to  Detroit,  leaving  it  I 
to  his  discretion  to  dispose  of  the  public  property  as  he  thought 
proper.     The  neighbouring  Indians,  hearing  that  the  goods  in 
the  factory  were  to  be  given  to  them,  crowded  into  the  fort  [ 
fi'om  all  quarters.     On  the  13th  of  August,  captain  Wells  ar- 
rived from  fort  Wayne  with  30Miamies,whom  he  had  brought] 
by  request  of  general  Hull,  for  the  purpose  of  escorting  the  | 
garrison  to  Detroit.     The  following  day  all  the  goods  in  the  i 
factory  store  were  delivered  to  the  Indians.     'i.'he  surplus  arms  | 
and  ammunition,  however,  and  the  spiritous  liquors  were  de- 
stroyed, lest  the  Indians  should  make  a  bad  use  of  them  if  put  | 
into  their  possession. 

On  the  15th  the  garrison  commenced  their  march  for  Detroit,! 
a  part  of  the  Miamies  being  detached  in  front,  and  the  remain- 
der in  the  rear,  as  guards,  under  the  direction  of  captain  Wells.  I 
Their  course  lay  along  the  beach  of  lake  Michigan,  the  lake 
on  their  left,  and  a  high  sa'nd  bank  on  their  right,  distant  about 
100  yards.     They  had  not  proceeded  two  miles  before  they] 
were  fired  on  by  the  Indians  from  behind  the  bank,  and  an  ac- 
tion immediately  commenced;  but  the  Miamies  giving  the  gar- 
rison no  assistance,  in  fifteen  minutes  thirty-eight  soldiers,  two! 
women,  and  twelve  children  were  killed,  and  the  Indians  had  | 
gained  possession  of  all  their  horses,  provisions  and  baggagt 
The  remainder  were  surrounded^  and  made  ■orisoners;     They ! 
were  then  earned  back  to  the  fort,  and  distributed  among  the  I 
/djlierent  tribes.     Next  morning  the  Indians  burnt  the  fort,  and 


fflSTORY   OF  THE  WAlt. 


JS 


e  to  sustain  1 


I  carried  off  their  prisoners.     The  number  of  Indian  warriors  in 

the  action  was  between  four  and  five  hundred;  their  loss  about 

(fifteen.     Captain  fleald  and  his  lady  were  carried  to  the  mouth 

[of  the  river  St.  Joseph,  and  being  both  badly  wounded,  were 

I  permitted  to  reside  there  with  an  Indian  trader,  whence  they 

took  an  opportunity  of  going  to  Michillimackinac,  where  the 

captain  surrendered  himself  to  the  British  as  a  prisoner  of 

jwar.     A  lieutenant,  twenty-five  non-commissioned  officers  and 

[soldiers,  and  eleven  women  and  children,  were  prisoners  when 

[the  captain  separated  from  them. 

By  the  disastrous  issue  of  this  unfortunate  expedition  of  ge- 

|neral  Hull,  besides  the  loss  of  men  and  arms  at  Detroit,  a 

weak  frontier  of  vast  extent  was  exposed  to  the  brutality  of 

[Indian  warfare,  which  continued  for  twelve  months  to  harass 

the  western  settlements,  and  the  territory  of  Michigan  was  oc- 

[cupiod  as  a  British  province. 

From  the  disastrous  scenes  which  followed  the  first  efforts 
)f  our  arms  in  the  north-west,  we  turn  with  pleasure  to  record 
[the  glorious  events  that  have  taken  place  on  the  ocean.  There 
loiir  gallant  tars,  strong  in  spirit,  though  weak  in  number,  in 
[despite  of  the  thousand  ships  of  the  self-styled  mistress  of  the 
[ocean,  have  triumphantly  borne  the  flag  of  America  through 
levery  sea,  from  the  rude  and  inclement  shores  of  Greenland, 
[to  the  rich  and  temperate  regions  of  Chili  and  Peru.  The 
[enemy,  with  his  immense  disparity  of  force,  has  to  boast  of 
|but  few  triumphs  over  us,  whilst  we  can  claim  more  than  we 
lave  ships. 

But  the  courage  of  our  tars,  though  it  has  achieved  victories 
i^hich  have  thrown^  halo  of  glory  around  our  little  navy,  forms 
)y  no  means  the  most  conspicuous  or  lovely  trait  in  their  cha- 
a.cter.  Their  modesty  and  disinterestedness,  their  humanity 
^nd  liberality  to  the  conquered,  have  been  such  as  uniformly  to 
Extort  the  grateful  acknowledgements  of  the  enemy  that  they 
iave  thus  doubly  vanquished,  and  have  convinced  the  world, 
that  the  character  of  bravery  which  they  have  acquired,  doos 
lot  rest  merely  on  the  exertion  of  physical  strength  and  techni- 
:al  skill. 

Nor  has  the  naval  glory  of  America  suffered  by  the  few  re- 
verses that  have  taken  place.  On  no  occasion  has  its  honour 
)een  in  the  slightest  degree  tarnished;  it  has  been  equally  sus- 
tained in  defeat  as  in  victory;  and  the  clouds  of  adversity  have 
Berved  but  to  display  its  character  in  a  new  light,  and  to  show 
that  it  is  adequate  to  every  emergency. 

i  iiese  remarks  do  not  solely  apply  to  national  vessels.     The 
Icomnianders  and  crews  of  our  privateers  have  not  be^  o»j*- 


A 


20 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAIl. 


shone  either  in  courttge  or  magnanimity,  as  has  been  amply 
proved  by  their  valorous  deeds,  and  by  the  numerous  public 
testimonies  which  have  been  borne  to  their  worth  by  the  un- 
flattering tongue  of  those  who  have  suffered  by  their  enter*^ 
prize.* 


'A 
4^i 


:  i:  I 


1l 


iWi 

m  » 


*  We  are  favoured  nvith  the  following  anecdote  by  a  gentle- 
man  who  waa  firesent  when  the  circumstance  related  took  filacCj 
he  having  been  cafitured  by  the  British  squadron  in  a  merchant 
vessel  which  sailed  from  .England  beforb  the  knowledge  of  the 
war. 

In  Julyy  1812,  the  privateer  Dolfihin,  cafitain  Endicot^  of  Sa- 
Jem^  was  cafitured  by  a  British  squadron  U7ider  commodore 
Broke,  and  the  cafitain  and  crew  were  fiut  on  board  the  Eolue, 
lord  James  Townshend.  Endicot,  during  the  short  sfiace  of 
time  that  had  elafised  from  the  declaration  of  war  to  his  cafi- 
turcy  had  taken  fifteen  vessels,  and  by  his  enterfirize,  activity, 
end  courage,  had  excited  a  considerable  degree  of  asfierity 
against  him  in  the  minds  of  the  officers  of  the  squadron,  who 
had  almost  daily  heard  of  his  exfiloits.  On  the  arrival  of  the 
crew  on  board  the  Eolus,  they  were  treated  with  much  haughti- 
ness, and  suffered  some  indignities.  Cafitain  Endicot,  in  fiarti- 
cular,  was  treated  with  such  haughty  reserve,  that  for  several 
days  not  a  word  was  exchanged  with  him. 

This  treatment,  however,  was  but  of  short  duration.  On 
board  the  Dolfihin  the  British  found  more  of  their  own  country- 
men firisoners  than  there  were  men  in  the  firivateer,  and  on  ex- 
amining them,  they  were  equally  surfirised  and  mortified  to  hear 
the  conduct  of  the  Americans  sfioken  of  in  the  highest  terms  of 
afifirobation,  to  find  that  every  thing  had  been  done  to  render 
their  situation  comfortable,  and  that  all  on  board  had  shared 
equally  in  every  luxury  that  the  vessel  afforded.  It  was  also 
discovered,  that  in  a  former  cruize  Endicot  had  cafitured  off 
J^ova  Scotia  a  vessel  in  which  there  was  an  old  woman  passen- 
ger, who  had  800  dollars  in  cash  on  board,  and  who  afifieared  in 
great  distress  at  the  firosfiect  of  losing  her  firofierty.  Endicot 
had  with  difficulty  soothed  her,  as  she  could  hardly  be  fiersuaded 
that  her  little  all  waa  not  irrecoverably  gone.  The  crew,  on 
hearing  of  the  woman's  fears,  unanimously  declared  that  not  a 
cent  of  it  should  he  touched.  In  the  warmth  of  her  gratitude 
for  this  liberality,  she  made  the  circumstance  publicly  known 
through  the  newsfiafiers  on  her  arrival  in  the  United  States. 
The  British  officers,  Uahumed  now  of  their  fiust  conduct,  unu 

Tntsrtified  at  being  outdone  in  magna?iimity  by  a  prrvateersman^ 


&ia,TORT  OP  THE  VTAA. 


121 


A  tew  dpys  previous  to  the  declaration  of  war,  the  frigates 
United  States  and  Congress,  and  the  brig  Argus,  received  or- 
ders to  rendezvous  Qff  Sandy  Hook.  On  their  arrival  there  on 
the  21  St  of  June,  they  were  joined  by  the  brig  Hornet  and  the 
President,  from  New  York,  and  the  same  day  commodore 
Rodgers,  who  commanded  the  squadron,  having  received  o^- 
cial  intelligence  of  the  declaration  of  war,  they  put  to  sea  in 
search  of  a  British  convoy  which  had  sailed  from  Jamaica  in 
the  preceding  month.  The  foilowinqr  night  information  was 
received  of  the  convoy  from  an  American  brig,  which  had 
passed  them  four  days  before,  «nd  the  squadron  crowded  all 
sail  in  pursuit. 

Next  morning,  however,  their  course  was  altered  by  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  British  frigate  Belvidera,  to  which  they-  im- 
mediately gave  chase.  The  jiursuit  continued  from  six  in  the 
morning  until  past  four  in  the  afternoon,  when  the  commo- 
dore's ship,  the  President,  having  got  within  gun-shot,  com- 
menced a  fire  with  the  bpw  chase  guns,  at  the  spars  and  rig- 
ging of  the  Belvidera,  in  hopes  of  crippling  the  one. or  the 
other  so  far  as  to  enable  them  to  get  along  side.  The  Belvi- 
dera returned  the  fire  of  the  President  with  her  stern  guns, 
and  the  firing  was  kept  up  without  intermission  for  about  ten 
minutes,  when  one  of  the  President's  chase  guns  burst,  by 
which  unfortunate  accident  sixteen  men  were  killed  and  woun- 
ded; among  the  wounded  was  commodore  Rodgers,  who  had 
his  leg  fractured.  By  the  bursting  of  the  gun,  and  the  explo- 
sion of  the  passing  box,  from  which  it  was  served  with  pow- 
der, both  the  main  and  forecastle  decks  were  so  much  shat- 
tered as  vo  prevent  the  use  of  a  chase  gun  on  that  side  for 
some  time.  Orders  were  therefore  given  to  veer  the  ship, 
and  a  broadside  was  fired,  in  the  hope  of  disabling  the  spars  of 
the  enemy.  This,  however,  did  not  succeed;  but  considerable 
damage  was  done  to  the  rigging  and  the  stern.  The  utmost 
exertion  was  now  used  on  board  the  President,  by  wetting  the 


tvateersman^ 


changed  their  conduct  towards  Endicot,  and  invited  him  to  me»» 
in  the  gun  room,  where  hin  frank,  manly  behaviour  quickly  te^ 
cured  htm  their  highest  resfieci.  In  sfteaking  of  pHvateeL  he 
remarked  to  the  British  officers,  that  they  were  under  the  same 
regulations  as  national  vessels,  and  that  American  finv ate erinx 
juuurally  differed  from  that  of  other  nations,  as  it  was  generally 
^nsidered  tn  the  United  States  as  a  national  mode  of  carrying 
on  the  war,  and  hastening  fieace,  by  ofieratin^  ofi  thl-  «,«««  L 

*icr  most  vulnerable  fioint.  '    '  '"'  ~  " 

C 


ill 


m'  I 


'«i  1 


•*  HISTORY  OP  THE  WAI\. 

sails,  Sec.  Lo  gain  ground  of  her  opponent,  but  without  success. 
A  constant  fircing  was  kept  up  on  both  sides,  the  President  at 
times  giving  broadsides,  'intil  about  seven  o'clock,  when  the 
Delvidera,  having  cut  away  her  anchors,  started  a  number  of 
water  casks,  an<l  thrown  overboard  her  boats  and  every  thing 
that  could  be  spared,  began  to  gain  ground,  and  to  get  out  of 
the  reach  of  the  President's  shot.  The  chase,  however,  was 
t:ontinued  with  all  the  sail  our  squadron  could  set,  until  about 
half  past  eleven,  when  it  was  given  up  as  hopeless.  Consider- 
able injury  was  done  to  both  vessels  in  this  action.  One  of 
the  first  shots  fired  by  the  President  killed  one  man  and  wound- 
ed six;  the  captain  was  severely  wounded  in  the  thigh  by  the 
breaking  of  the  breeching  of  a  carronade.  On  board  the  Pre- 
sident there  were  three  killed  and  nineteen  wounded,  the  grea- 
ter part  by  the  bursting  of  the  gjm. 

The  squadron  now  resumed  their  course  in  pursuit  of  the 
convoy  from  Jamaica,  but  did  not  receive  further  intelligence 
of  it  until  the  29th  of  June,  when  an  American  schooner  was 
spoken  on  the  western  edge  of  the  banks  of  Newfoundland, 
that  had  passed  them  two  days  before.  On  the  1st  of  July  they 
fell  in  with  quantities  of  cocoa-nut  shells,  orange  peels,  &c. 
which  indicated  that  the  convoy  were  not  far  distant.  On  the 
9th  they  captured  the  British  privateer  Dolphin,  which  had 
passed  the  convoy  the  preceding  evening.  The  pursuit  was 
continued,  but  without  success,  until  the  1 3th,  the  squadron 
J)eing  then  within  eighteen  or  twenty  hours  sail  of  the  British 
channel. 

From  this  they  steered  for  the  island  of  Madeira,  and  thence 
passing  the  Azores  stood  for  Newfoundland,  and  from  the  lat- 
ter place  by  the  way  of  Cape  Sable  to  Boston,  where  thev  ar- 
rived on  the  31st  of  August. 

During  a  great  part  of  this  cruize  the -weather  was  such  as 
to  obscure  every  distant  object:  for  several  days  the  fog  was  so 
thick  as  to  prevent  the  vessels  of  the  squadron  from  seeing 
each  other,  even  at  cable's  length  asunder;  In  consequence  of 
which,  although  they  chased  every  vessel  they  saw,  and  brought 
to  every  thing  they  chased,  with  the  exception  of  four  vessels, 
they  made  only  seven  captures  and  one  recapture.  The 
cruize,  however,  was  not  barren  of  benefit  to  the  country,  as 
the  kowledge  of  the  squadron's  ueing  at  sea  obliged  the  ene- 
my to  concentrate  a  considerable  portion  of  his  most  active 
force,  and  thereby  prevented  hw  c^Hvirinf-:  a  large  amount  of 
American  property  that  would  ita*  ■  vir  have  fallen  a  sacri- 
fice. The  vessels  that  escaped  v/ore,  the  Belvidera,  another 
British  frigate^  by  xtfght,  and  two  Am^ricaij  privateers. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR.  ^'^ 

The  Constitution  frigate,  under  the  command  of  captaiii 
1  lull,  had  received  orders  to  join  the  squadron,  andforthat  pur- 
pose sailed  fronl%nnapoli8  on  the  5th  of  July.     On  the  irth, 
off  Egg  Harbour,  four  ships,  apparently  of  war,  wrre  disco- 
vered from  the  mast-head  to  the  northward,  and  m  shore  ot  the 
Constitution,  and,  in  the  belief  that  it  was  the  American  sqviad. 
ron  waiting  her  arrival,  all  sail  was  made  m  chase  of  them. 
At  fo'ir  in  the  afternoon  another  ship  was  seen  from  the  niast- 
head,  to  the  north-east,  standing  for  the  Constitution  with  all 
sail  set,  the  wind  at  this  i-ne  being  very  light,  which  course 
she  continued  till  sun-set,  oUt  was  still  too  far  off  to  distinguish 
signals.     At  ten  in  the  cvenin  - ,  being  then  withm  8ix  or  eight 
miles  of  the  strange     lil,  the  private  signal  was  inade  by  the 
Constitution,  and  kept  up  nearly  an  hour;  it  not  bemg  answer- 
ed, it  was  concluded  that  she  and  the  ships  in  shore  were  ene- 
my's vessels.     Captain  Hull  immediately  laid  his  vessel  in  the 
same  course  with  the  others,  having  determined  to  he  oft  till 
day-light  to  see  what  they  were. 
'      Next  morning,  about  day-light,  two  frigates  were  seen  from 
the  Constitution,  under  her  lee,  one  frigate  four  or  five  nules, 
and  a  line  of  battle  ship,  a  frigate,  a  brig,  anda  schooner  ten 
or  twelve  miles  directly  astern,  all  in  chase,  and  coming  up  tast, 
they  having  a  fine  breeze,  and  it  being  nearly  cabn  where  the 
Constitution  w«s.     After  sunrise,  finding  there  was  but  little 
chance  for  escape,  beihg  then  within  five  miles  of  three  heavy 
frigates,  the  Constitution  waa  cleared  for  action,  and  two  guns 
were  runout  at  the  cabin  windows,  and  two  at  the  ports  on  the 
quarter  deck.     At  eight,  four  of  the  ships  were  nearly^  within 
gun-shot,  some  of  them  having  six  or  eight  boats  ahead  tow- 
ing, with  all  their  oars  and  sweeps  out. 

*In  this  perilous  situation,  a  new  expedient  was  determined 
on,  which  was  the  happy  means  of  saving  the  vessel.  Being 
in  /v«b  twenty-fovir  fathoms  water,  boats  were  sent  out  ahead 
with  ai>,cii->rs,  and  ^h^  ship  warped  up  to  them,  by  which  they 
s'  ,.*)  '-ug  a  to  get  ahead  of  the  enemy.  They,  however,  adopt- 
ed the  same  plan,  and  all  the  boats  from  the  furthermost  ships 
were  sent  to  assist  those  nearest.  For  two  days  and  nights 
were  they  chased  by  the  squadron,  sometimes  with  light 
winds,  at  others  warping  and  towing  in  a  calm,  seldom  mucli 
beyond  gun-shot  distance.  On  the  morning  of  the  20th  only 
three  of  the  squadron  could  be  seen  from  the  mast-head,  the 
nearest  about  12  miles  distant,  directly  astern.  Having  now 
a  light  breeze,  all  hands  were  employed  in  wetting  the  sails 
from  the  royals  down,  and  the  enemy  was  soen  left  tar  behind. 
The  Constitution,  not  being  able  to  find  the  United  States 


1 

I 


24 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


aTi^r* "'"'  '"*''  ^™^  f"  Boston,  where  she  shonl^  af.,r 

and" oVt'f.?^  f  ;s'':;f<,iL?'''H''"s'''»^'"  p« «-  «»- 

raked      Af  1,J,  .i,!    P|"Pos=  of  closing  and  avoiding  beina 

my^  Srbv  hlr         '^^V"^  P^'^^^"'  ^d  t°  «w^eP  her  ene- 
luy  s  aecK  by  her  grape-shot  and  musouetrv      Th«  k 

i.tintSXt'thi'""''  '•'"'  p^i-.-^^eTtKc'instttli;: 

.im  iniormea  that  she  was  in  a  sinking  condition    ind  h^A 

ileTu/'  '^*  '''"  '"  ™  '^'■^'  ^n'l  shortly  after 

Captain  Hull  in  his  official  letter  states,  that  all  his  crew 

XT^  n'  """'"  ^'^'"'-y'  f™"  "'«  smallesVboyin  thl 
s  ij.  to  the  oldest  seaman,  not  a  look  of  fear  was  seen     Th^v 

a    went  mto  action  giving  three  cheers,  and  request"n  Jo  be 

eoiHrH,:'™,'^-"""  "V''^  ^"""^-      Their  hnmanify  was 

,?!?         Ik''  ^''""I^-     '^"P'"'"  JJ»<:>^s.  in  his  official  letter 

the  S:»L^"''  '"k''V«  '"  '"'™  heen  « that  of  a  brave  enemK 

wotdSi.'"'"''  '""'  ""=  S™**^^'  'Attention  being,  paid. ftL: 

On  board  the  Constitution  there  were  seven  killed  and  seven 

woutKled;  on  board  the  Gucrriere,  fifteen  were  k™nd  six" 


ortiy  aftor 

)«.t  to  sea, 
which  a$ 
ft  ship  was 
:h  proved 
ag;  for  her 
ready  she 
g  to  ^3osc 
fie  re  gave 
•adside  on 
rt.     Both 
an  hour, 
iition,  the 
ng  being 
e  for  six- 
fell  over- 
abled  the 
her  ene- 
fire  was 
Jr,  whens, 
5  became 
istitution 
s  still  fly- 
hen  they 

was  got 
At  day- 
5titution, 
and  had 
;rs  were 
•tly  after 

lis  crew 
y  in  the 
.  They 
ng  to  be 
>ity  was_ 
il  letter, 
enemy;  • 
sing  the  • 
d  to  the 

id  seven 

and  six- 


w 


I 


>     ! 


'4" 

'   '■! 

i        ■ 

1 

1 

i 

; 

ii^^ 

iJ 

ih- 


IttSTORY    OF  THE  WAR., 


fy-three  wounded,  and  twenty-four  missing;  the  latter  were 
jytated  by  one  of  the  officers  to  be  away  in  prizes 

The  Constitution  rated  44  guns  and  carried  56;  her  comple- 
inent  of  men  is  450.  The  Gucrriere  rated  38  guns  and  car- 
ried 49,  the  odd  gun  shifting,  which  makes  it  equal  to  two; 
she  had  on  boad  about  300  men. 

Meantime  the  other  vessels  of  our  little  navy  were  not  idle. 
The  Essex  sailed  from  New-York  on  the  3d  of  July,  and  shoi 
ly  after  fell  in  with  a  fleet  of  transports,  under  convpy  of  a  fri- 
gate and  two  bomb  ketches,  from  Jamaica  for  Halifax,  with 
troops.     The  Essex  kept  at  a  distance  until  m^hty  when  she 
cut  off*  a  brig  with  150  soldiers  on  board,  which  was  ransomed 
tor  a  bill  oi  exchange  on  London  for  14,000  dollars.      The 
men  were  disarmed,  an  exchange  receipt  taken  for  them,  and 
they  severally  took  an  oath  not  to  serve  till  exchanged.     Cap- 
tain Porter,  in  his  letter  to  the  secretary  of  the  navy,  lamented 
that  he  had  not  Avith  him  a  sloop  of  war,  that  the  ships  of  the 
^onvoy  might  have  been  kept  in  play  while  he  engaged  the 
I  tugate.    «  Had  this  been  the  case,"  says  he,  « instead  of  tak- 
ing only  200  prisoners,  I  have  not  a  doubt  that  we  should  have 
made  prisoners  of  the  whole  of  the  troops,  as  well  as  the  fri- 
gate's and  ti-auspcrts^  crews,  which  would  have  exceded  2000 
men." 

The  following  day  the  Essex  captured  the  brig  Lamprey 
from  Jamaica.  Intelligence. was  received  from  her  that  the 
1  hetis  frigate,  with  specie  and  a  large  convoy  for  England,  was 
to  have  sailed  about  the  26th  of  June,  and  that  several  running 
ships  were  on  the  departure.  Every  exertion  was  thereforl 
made  to  get  off  St.  Augustine  in  time  to  fall  m-with  them,  but 
vithout  effect,  as  fresh  gales  prevailed  from  the  south-west, 
Mhich  mcreascdiintil  the  19th  of  July,  when,  by  the  violence 
ot  the  tempest,  they  were  compelled  to  run  before  the  wind. 

of  wL    V  ^""^"'r'  ^^^  ^"'^^  captured  the  Alert  sloop 

of  war,  after  an  action  of  eight  minutes.  The  Alert,  which 
was  said  to  have  been  sent  out  for  the  purpose  of  taking  he 
Hornet,  ran  down  on  the  weather  quarter  of  the  Essex,  and 
gave  three  cheers  at  the  commencement  of  the  action.  When 
he  ZT^  ^''  colours  she  had  only  three  men  woundedTbut 

nkces      Sp  '''  """''.'  '"1  ^'^  ^^'^'  ^"^  was  much  cut  to 
pieces.     1  he  Essex  received  not  the  slightest  injury. 

inclS.'^LV^^.r'ff  ^  ''''^'  ^''  prisoners,  wLamounted, 
inciudrng  those  of  the  Alert,  to  500.  cantain  Pnrt*.»,^,^.i,„i.,i' 

rhnrvr^r^"^""'^^,*^"  ^^P*^^^^  «f  the  Alert,  for  despatching 
Her  guns  were  accordmgly  thrown  overboard,  and  she  wasen- 


HISTORY    OF  THE  WAR. 


r, 


trusted  to  the  command  ot  a  lieutenant  of  the  Essex,  wjth 
orders  to  proceed  to  St.  John's,  Newfoundland  The  Com- 
mander of  the  British  naval  forces  at  that  place,  in  a  letter  to 
the  American  secretary  of  the  navy,  strongly  protests  against 
this  practice  of  immediately  despatching  captured  vessels  as 
cartels;  "  nevertheless,  as  a  proof  of  respect  for  the  liberality 
with  which  the  captain  of  the  Essex  has  acted,  in  more  than 
one  instance,  towards  the  British  subjects  who  have  fallen  in^o 
his  Hands,"  and  through  a  desire  to  fulfil  the  engagements  efr> 
tered  mto  by  a  British  officer,  he  consented  to  the  proposed 
exchange.     The  Alert  is  noM-  in  the  American  service. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  30th  of  August,  a  Briitsh  frigate 
was  perceived  standh*?;  for  the  Essex  under  a  press  of  sail.— 
Porter  was  instantly  prepared  for  actioii,  and  stood  towards  the 
frigate,  and  at  the  approach  of  night  a  light  was  hoisted  for  the 
purpose  of  preventhig  a  separation.  At  nine  a  signal  v/as  msde 
by  the  enemy  consisting  of  two  flashes  and  one  blue  light,  ap- 
parently about  four  miles  distant.  The  Essex  continued  to 
stand  for  the  point  were  the  signal  was, seen  until  midnight,, 
Avben,  not  getting  sight  of  the  enemy,  she  hove  too  until  day- 
light, on  the  presumption  that  the  other  had  done  the  same,  or 
at  least  would  keep  in  the  neighbourhccd;  but  to  the  surprise 
and  mortification  of  all  on  board,  in  the  morning  the  coast  was 
cl«ir. 

On  the  4th  of  Septembe^r,  off  the  tail  of  St.  George's  bank, 
two  shi|teof  war  were  discoverefl  to  the  southward,  and  a  brig 
to  the'  northward,  the  latter  in  chase  of  an  American  merchant- 
man.    The  Essex  gave  chase  to  the  brig,  which  attempted  to 
pass  her  and  join  the  other  tw.'>,  but  was  prevented,  and  com- 
pelled to  stand  to  the  north.     She,  however,  escaped,  tlie  wind 
}>eing  ligh^,  by  means  of  her  sweeps.     On  the  Essex  showing 
hev  colours  to  the  American  vessel,  the   vessels  to  the  south- 
ward ftrcd  signal  p;uns,  and  made  all  sail  in  chui^c  of  her,  and 
by  4  P.  M.  had  gained  her  wake,  and  were  coming  up  very  fast. 
Calculating  on  escaping  by  some  manoeuvre  in  the  night,  cap- 
tain Porter  hoisted  American  colours,  and  fired  a  gun  to  wintl* 
ward.      The  ships  still   continued  to  gain  on   him,  and  the 
largest  being  considerably  to  windward  of  the  other,  and  only 
live  miles  astern,  captain  Porter  determined  to  heave  about  as 
!;oon  as  it  grew  dark,  and,  in  the  event  of  not  being  able  to  pass 
him,  to  fire  a  broadside  and  lay  him  on  board,  a  resolution  that 
was  received  with  three  cheers  when  proposed  to  the  crew.^— 

K.if 


^1>- 


-t-» 


saw  no  more  of  the  enemy;  a  circumstance  which  seems  the 
jnorc  extraordinary,  as  a  pi&tol  was  fired  by  accident  on  board 


m 


rhe  tom- 
a  letter  to 
ts  against 
vessels  as 

liberality 
iTiore  than 
fallen  in^p 
ments  er> 

proposed 
ce. 
sh  frigate 

of  sail. — 
wards  the 
:ed  for  the 

v/as  msde 

light,  ap- 
itinued  to 
midnight,! 

until  day 
t  same,  or 
e  surprise 

coast  was 


v:\ 


ge's  bank, 
and  a  brigj 
merchant - 
empted  to 
I  and  cbm- 
,  tlie  wind 
X  showing 
the  south- 
f  her,  and 
)  very  fast, 
light,  cap- 
m  to  wind* 
1,  and  the 
,  and  only 
e  about  as 
ble  to  pass 
hition  that 
16  crew.'— 

seems  the 

it  on  bosird 


after  | 

donial 

The  I 

choo^ 

hour 

lime 


i 


d'^H 

^Hs 

Wm^ 

mt 

iS^B 

^Bcx 

iWW 

^^mi\. . 

HISTORY    OF  tHE  WAR. 


sr 


.SSCXi 


,.«^^ 


the  moment  when  she  must  have  been  at  the 
[shortest  distance  from  them.  On  the  7th  of  September  the 
iKssex  arrived  in,  the  Delaware. 

On  the  8th  of  October  the  President  frigate,  in  compaoy 
^vith  the  United  States,  Congress,  and  Argus,  sailed  from  Bos- 
ton on  a  cruize.     On  the   13th  the  United  States  and  Argus 
)arted  company  with  the  squadron  in  a  gale  of  wind.     On  the 
15th  the  President  and  Congress  captured  the  British  packet 
iwallow,   having  on   board   specie  to  tiie  amount  of  nearly 
00,000  dollars.     On  the  31st  they  captured  a  south  sea  ship, 

P loaded  with  oil,  one  of  two  ships  under  convoy  of  the  Galatea 
frigate,  to  which  they  gave  chase,  but  lost  her  in  a  fog.  During 
a  he  remainder  of  this  cruize  they  saw  no  other  British  vesiicl 
[except  the  frigate  Nymph,  which  escaped  in  the  night.  On 
[the  31st  of  December  they  arrived  at  Boston,  having  been,  as 
[far,  tj^tlje  east  as  longitude  22  degrees,  and  to  the  south  as  lati- 
jtucle  17  (fegrees  N.,  whence  they  ran  down  the  trade  wind  to 
[50  degi'ccs  W.,  and  on*ncir  Keturn  to  the  north  passed  within 
120  miles  of  Bermuda. 

The  Argus,  <ifter  parting  from  the  squadron,  proceeded  to 
[the  coast  of  Brazil,,  sailed  along  the  north  coast  frorn  cape  St. 
Roque  to  Surinam,  thence  to  the  windward  of  the  West  In- 
[dies,  and  thence  in  every  direction  between  the  Bermudas, 
[Halifax,  and  the  continent.     After  bciiig  out  96  days  she  arriv- 
fcd  at  New  York >  having  made  five  prizes,  valued  at  200,000 
:  <lollars.    During  her  ci-uizc,  she  fell  in  with  a  British  squadron, 
consisting  of  six  sail,  two  of  which  were  of  the  line,  one  of 
I  them  a  remai'kably  fast  sailer.  The  favour  of  the  moon  enabling 
them  to  c;hase  by  night  as  well  as  by  day,  the  chase  was  con- 
tinued for  three  days,  without  intermission,  and  under  various 
circumstances,  but  by  unremitted  exertions,  the  Argus  was 
enabled  to  elude  the  pursuit.     Pressed  on  all  sides  by  the  num- 
ber of  the  enemy,  and  the  baffling  and  unsettled  slate  of  the 
Aveather,  she  was  at  one  time  within  musket  shot  of  a  74,  and 
at  another  nearly  surrounded.     While  in  this  perilous  situation 
she  actually  captured  and  manned  one  of  her  prizes. 

The  United  States  was  still  more  fortunate.  On  the  25th  of 
October,  off  the  Western  Islands,  about  two  weeks  after  being 
separated  from  the  squadron,  she  fell  in  with  and  captured, 
liter  an  action  of  an  hour  and  a  half,  the  British  frigate  Mace- 
Ionian,  of  the  same  class  and  strength  with  the  Guerriere.— ^ 
"^he  Macedonian,  being  to  windward,  had  the  advantage  of 
loosing  Irer  distance,  which  was  so  great  that  for  the  first  half 
liour  the  United  States  couid  not  use  her  carrouades,  and  at  no 
fiine  were  they  within  musket  or  grape  shot.    ZTo  this  circuni- 


28 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAH. 


11.  ': 


her  mizen  mast,  fo^  and^^L        ^^  wounded;  she  aho  lost 

was  much  cut  i,prLrhulTSnhrTf''fr^.  '"^"^  r^'^^''^^^ 
were  only  five  killed  n.H        ^"^^^^^dthc  United  States  there 

ed  by  the?hrp^v^lr  o  s  rsTcf ;  ^'?  '^"^^^^  -»'^^- 

necessary.  "^"^^  ^^  ^^  » ^"dcr  her  return  to  pon 

onThe%li"LfDe?em^^^^^^^^^  -i.h  her  prize 

sound  far  New  YorlT  "^"^  pi^ceeded  through  the 

D^i:^^^^!:|'|^^^;j;;^y  was  displayed  by  commodore 
Pertyof  t^ie  officers  and  ^^!        7  ""T^^^  Allthepro- 

music  aid  several  cTsks  o^f  wW       i^'r  ^"  ''^^^"^"^^  «  ^^"d  of 
-nd  paixl  for  by  the  comllo™''  "'^''  "^^"  valued. tg 800, 

^tance^^l,:^^^^-  -^not^^^^^     to  mention  an  in- 
comraoni  fcamen      In  tho  .?r       ^.^^''^  occasion  among  the 
the  carjfenter's  c  ew  w^' ^^2^ nTn  V^?  Macedonian  oL  of 
.   inercy  of  the  world  amUf  a  ^1^^ ^'^  '\^^^  ^^iid'-en  at  the 
<ioned  them.     On  the  ^Hval  of  fhi?'  T-^^'^  ^^^«  ^^^^  ^^an- 
their  grandfather  ^v^nt^n  bird  tt  Vr-^f  c'"'  ^'  ^'"^  York, 
Pi^perty  and  wa^es  of  hir.^n      k     "'^""^  ^'^^^'  ^«  ^^^i"»  the 
<:umstances  of  thffL^ L  LI  "^  ""^"^  ?  ^^^i'-y  i"to  the  cir. 
on  by  the  seamen  foMlereHef^l^^^  "'^^  !  P^""  ^^«  ^&^-^«i  «P- 
w^re  instantly  colleaedfofth^^^^^  ^^  ^*"^h  «  S^O 

to  be  placed  in  the  h  andfof  s^t.M.T    ?^^/"^  education, 
But  of  all  the  victorLs  whir^f        T^^^^^  ^^^  *^^  P^^pose 
vessels,  perhaps  tl^mTs  S^.t  s^thaHhTcf  ^h'  '^  "°^^^ 
come  our  most  pleasing,  task  to  record      At  *V   ^?'  "°T  ^^■ 
declaration  of  war,  the  WasD  sloon  I'f  *^^  time  of  the 

captain  Jacob  Jones,  wan  nnhtP  ^  of  w^p  commanded  by 
«he  had  carried  depTXs  to  ^r^'-^'""^  ?"^^P^'  ^^^ither 
f-^-ance.  She  arrived  f the  DH^ '"''''f'' ^"  ^"S^^^d  and 
event,  and  sailed  aS  /l  n  ^?^^^^f\ ^rfew  weeks  after  that 
the  lethsheexpeSed.  h  ""^"T '>"  '^^  of  October.  ^ 
t>oom  and  two^men  On  th^  ^"^^ '"  \^^"^  «^^  ^^'^  ^^'  ^^ 
aDouteleveno'cTork  in.  I  ^^^'^  «^  **»«  following  4v, 
in  the  tracTof  ve^l  "  '  tn'J  r^^-jj^^^  ^-ning,  bein|then 
fotind  herself  nla?five?t '"£    T  ^""^"^^  ^^  ^^^'^^^  she 

«ome  of  them  seeLd  to  b^l^f  ^^  ''""^"^  ^^«^^^^-    "  As 
»-.  _^^  p ^,       ^'^v^iHcu  lo  oe  sftiDs  oi  war.  It  -ur^ic  ♦K^.,_t^  i 


>  ascribed   ihp, 

superiority  of  j 

On  board  the 

J;  she  also  lost 

wain  yard,  and 

d  States  there 

tmage  sustain. 

return  to  poit 

^ith  her  prize 
through  the 

y  commodore 
All  the  pro- 
:cdonian  was 
ded  a  band  of 
luediit  S800, 


imhd  her 


M^ 


ms 


Mm 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


29 


r«nf  n^fi  Jir'"?  ''^^'^''^^  ^  ^^"^  "^"^*  to  Windward,  so  as  to  es- 
sTthS\V^'  occasion  might  require,  followed  the  strange 
c^min^n?p«  f      ?^k'-    ^'  ^^y^'^^^  on  Sunday  morning, 
SndeTronvnJ  r^^  that  they  were  six  large  merchant  shipl^ 
Icantain  VVh-'^     .^  ^^T^  ""{7'^''  ^*^^^*^  P^-^^^'^  ^o  be  the  Frolic, 
CtSv      '"^.'''^'J  ^'""^  Honduras  to  England,  with  a  convoy 
KT^L'""^^  and  manned,  having  all  forty  or  fifty  men, 2^ 

rvever'ratScHr  ""!f^"  ^^  ^^^^  «^  dLrm^nTd' 
leJlZfl.  ^u  !"?'  ^""^^  ^'  "'^'•^  ^^s  a  t»eavy  swell  of  the 
do^e  reefed  The  t  n  ^^^^^^IJ^'  ^^^  ^^^^^  Ws  top-gajlant  yards, 
S'clork  th.  p-  r  t°P:«*^^«J  ^nd  Pi-epared  for  action.  About  1 1 
>  clock  the  Frohc  showed  Spanish  colours;  and  the  WasD  im- 

3oard  sidfwi  Mn  K  ^.^'P  ''^"''  t^^  t°  windward,  on  her  lar- 
lanlpH  H  J  ^^^i^^V^o^V^^ty  yards,  and  hailed.     The  en^^ray 

Sd  oit^^^  ^«»°"^«'  hoisted  the  British  ensirn^ 

B?«itirretumed  nnH  ^"'''^"  '"^  mu«ketry-this  the  Wasp  V 
^lanuy  returned;  and  commg  near  to  the  enemy,  the  action  be. 
came  close  and  without  intermission.     In  four  or  five  n?^ute« 

fer  mTiTt'on  '' f^^  ^^^P  "-  *^«^  -^y'  id  filling  dt'a 
kT^    the  inam-top-sail  yard  across  the  larboard  fore  and  fore 

fe^st  o?th'e'Lr ''"?  '^^  ^^^'  ^'^^^^  unmlge^blTdu^^g 
Vl  n!;ln\  V,''"-     ^"  '^**  °^  t*^^'^^  °«nutes  more  her  ^ft 

^lesofthe;^rptgtswIr';;;e;^^^^^^^ 

J>osition  on  her  larboard  bow  H?r  fi  '  ^^^'^  resumed  her 
tended  with  ««^k  ,  ^^^  "^^  ^^^s  now  obviously  at- 

that  capTain  lones'SS  no'/  ' '  V^. "'  ^'^  ""'^'^^  ««  ^^-^Yned, 
iiess  of  thTsS^WnH      ''V^^^^^^^^  ^^^'  ^^«t  the  rough- 

[of  a  fewtiru^eTtoVertT;  I'^co'Tt^.'"^  ^"  ^'^  ^4^ 
|away,  and  her  rigcinff  so  murh^rn  ?  ^  ^^?  '^^'  ^^'^^ 
tfraid  that  his  nS^  h^i^  "  *°  P''^'^^^'  ^^^^^  ^^  ^^s 

Wd,  andtt  Sc'be  abfetre^^P^^'^'w""!!^  ^  ^^  ^^^ 
fore,  die  best  chance  nf«P.-       u'^'^P^'     "^  thought,  there- 

the  contest  at  once      With  th?.^  ^""  T'  '"  *^°"^^'  ^"^^  ^^^^^« 

-^hr  down  upon  tl^e^^^  ™T  ^^^P'  ^"^  run- 

3lJo^.^'„  „:j""-  , ,  ?!  enemy,  the  jessels  struck  each  othft»-  th^ 

foomVamrjrh^f^'''*'"?'^®^^^^^^'^  bow,  so  that  her^ib^ 


ft- 


It   h 


no 


HISTORY  OK  THE  WAR. 


lieutenant,  Mr.  Biddle,  who  were,  at  that  moment,  standing  | 
together  near  the  captain.     The  Frolic  lay  so  fair  for  rakinp 
that  they  decided  not  to  boar4  ""til  they  had  given  a  closing 
broadside.     Whilst  they  were  loading  for  this,  so  near  were 
the  two  vessels,  that  the  rammers  of  the  Wasp  were  pushed  I 
agamst  the  Frolic's  sides,  and  two  of  her  guns  went  through 
the  bow  ports  of  the  Frolic,  and  swept  the  whole  length  of  her, 
deck.     At  this  moment  Jack  Lang»,  a  seaman  of  the  Wasp,  a 
gallant  fellow,  who  had  been  once  impressed  by  a  British  man 
of  war,  jumped  on  a  gun  with  his  cutlass,  and  was  springing 
on  board  the  Frolic;  captain  Jones  wishing  to  fire  again  before 
boarding,  called  him  down;  but  his  impetuosity  could  not  be 
restramed,  and  he  was  already  on  the  bowsprit  of  the  Frolic; 
when,  seeing  the  ardour  and  enthusiasm  of  the  Wasp's  cre^^-,, 
lieutenant  Biddle  mounted  on  the  hammock  cloth  to  board, 
At  this  signal  the  crew  followed,  but  lieutenant  Biddle's  feet 
got  entangled  in  the  rigging  of  the  enemy's  bowsprit,  and  mid- 
shipman  Baker,  in  his  ardour  to  get  on  board,  laying  hold  of 
his  coat,  he  fell  back  on  the  Wasp's  deck.     He  sprang  up, 
and  as  the  next  swell  of  the  sea  brought  the  Frolic  nearer,  he 
got  on  the  bowsprit,  where  Lang  and  another  seaman  were} 
already.     He  passed  them  on  the  forecastle,  and  was  surpris- 
ed at  seeing  not  a  single  man  alive  on  the  Frolic's  deck,  ex- 
eeptthe  seamen  at  the  wheel  and  three  officers.     The  deck  I 
was  slippery  with  blood,  and  strewed  with  the  bodies  of  the 
dead.     As  he  went  forward,  the  captain  of  the  Frolic,  with  two 
other  officers,  who  were  standing  on  the  quarter-deck,  threw 
doAvn  their  swords,  and  made  an  inclination  of  their  bodies,  de- 
noting that  they  had  surrendered.     At  this  moment  the  co- 
lours were  still  flying,  as  probably  none  of  the  seamen  of  iLej 
Irohc  would  dare  to  go  into  the  rij^s^ing  for  fear  of  the  mus- 
quetry  of  the  Wasp.     Lieutenant  Biddle,  therefore,  jumped 
into  the  rigging  himself,  and  hauled  down  the  British  ensign, 
und  possession  was  taken  of  the  Frolic,  in  forty -three  mhiuteJ 
after  the  first  fire.    She  was  in  a  shocking  condition;  the  birth- 
deck  particularly  was  crowded  with  dead  and  wounded,  and  | 
dying;  there  being  but  a  small  proportion  of  the  Frolic's  crew  ' 
who  had  escaped.     Captain  Jones  instantly  sent  on  board  his 
surgeon's  mate,  and  all  the  blankets  of  the  Frolic  were  brought! 


*  ^^John  Lang  is  a  native  of  .Yew  Brunswick  in  Meiv-JcA 

sey.      We  mention^  with  great  fileasure,  the  name  of  this  hraT(\ 

Amencan  seamaji^  as  a  proof  that  con sfiicii on s  valour  is  coA 

fined  to  no  rank  in  the  navat  3a\'>ice> 

.1 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR.  5f 

from  her  slop-room  for  the  comfort  of  the  noundcd.     To  in. 
crease  this  confusion,  both  the  Frolic's  masts  soon  fell,  cover- 

hTr^eck!'  """'^  ''''"^  °"  '^'''''  ^"'^  '^"^  '^y  ^  complete 

nnnnJ  "^"^  appcaJcd  that  th  3  Frolic  mounted  sixteen  thirty-two 
pound  carronades,  four  twelve  pounders  on  the  main-deck,  and 
two  twelve  pound  carronacjes.     She  was,  therefore,  sup;r'or 
^o  the  Wasp,  by  exactly  four  twelve  pounders.     The  number 
^f  men  on  board,  as  stated  by  the  officers  of  the  Frolic,  was 
jne  hundred  and  ten-the  number  of  seamen  on  board  Iho 
VVasp  was  one  hundred  and  two;  but  it  couS  not  be  asc'ertatn' 
nZffi      '  '"J  '^''.  one  hundred  and  ten  were  included  marines 
hom^n'nffl?;  ^''^^^«P»^H  beside  her  one  hundred  S 
fA>o  men,  officers  and  mannes,  making  the  whole  crew  abmVJ 
bne  hundred  and  thirty-five.     What  is  however  decisive  asTo 
[heir  comparative  force,  is,  that  the  officers  of  the  Frolic  ac^ 
knowledged  that  they  had  as  many  men  as  they  knevv  what  to 
lo  with,  and  m  fact  the  Wasp  could  have  sparged  fifieenmen 
Fhcre  was,  therefore,  on  the  most  favourable  view,  afleaTt  an 
quality  of  men,  and  an  inequality  of  four  guns    The  d  sparitv 
M-  loss  was  much  greater.     The'exact  number  of  killed  S 
^vounded  on  board  the  Frolic  could  not  be  precisely  dellvrZ, 

Bon    o     w'of'ttT'r^'^r'""^  ««^^^^«'  ^"d  tL  decTrt 

fnd  five  slightly  wounded  "  ^^'^  ^^^  ^''  "^^"  ^^^^^ 

[ones  sent  orders  to  lieutenant  BiddleTrproce^d^rr^^^^^^      - 
(on,  or  any  southern  port  of  the  Unked  si^^^f      a  ^^^f'^S" 
ivas  a  suspicious  sail  to  windward    tllw'  ^f?  ^'  ^^^^^ 

ler  cruize.     The  ships  tnTarted  ^^^^^"^  ^.^l^^^  <^«?tinue 
how  coming  down  veTy  fast     At  fitt  'J      ^"^P»^^«^«  ^^^  ^^^ 

vas  one  of  the  convoy,  who  M  .1  1?^"^^°?^  ^^"' ^'^^ 

ncnt,and  the  ship  clelVed  foi  'c^^^^^^ 

Mvanccd,  proved\o  be  a  sevent^^^^^^^^  ^^  ^^« 

beresford.    She  fired  a  shot  ov^rt      I~r     P^^^^'^^s,  captain 
fook  the  Wasp,  the  disabled  7fZ    ^  ^^r^'"'  P'"''"^  ^^^'  «^^^- 

•arncd  into  Bermuda.  wasp  and  Irohc  were 

.-"^.'^!"«^t^^least  praise  due  to  rantnin  T«...  .u_.  ...... 

--  ox  uus  gallant  action  is  perfectly  midest^hdmu);;^: 


63 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


:.  ^:  W' 


U-'fl 


tious.     On  his  own  share  in  the  capUire  it  is  unnecessary  to 
add  any  thing.    '  The  courage  and  exertions  of  the  officers  and 
crew,*  he  observes,  'fully  answered  my  expectations  and  wish- 
es.    Lieutenant  Biddle's  active  conduct  contributed  much  to 
our  success,  by  the  exact  attention  paid  to  every  departmtnt 
during  the  engagement,  and  the  animating  example  he  afTord- 
ed  the  crew  by  his  intrepidity.    Lieutenants  Rodgers  and  Booth 
and  Mr.  Rapp,  showed,  by  the  incessant  fire  from  their  divi-j 
sions,  that  they  were  not  to  be  surpassed  in  resolution  or  skill. 
Mr.  Kni(jht,  and  every  other  officer,  acted  with  a  courage  and! 
promptitude  highly  honourable.    Lieutenant  Claxton,  who  was| 
confined  by  sickness,  left  his  bed  a  little  previous  to  the  en- 
gagement; and  though  too  weak  to  be  at  his  division,  remained! 
upon  deck,  and  showed  by  his  composed  manner  of  noting  itsi 
incidents,  that  we  had  lost  by  his  illness  the  service  of  a  bravel 
officer.**'* 

Meanwhile  the  utmost  exertions  were  used  on  the  lakes,  iitj 
order  to  retrieve  the  disasters  occasion  by  the  surrender  of! 
the  force  under  general  Hull.     When  that  event  took  place,] 
there  was  only  one  vessel  of  war  owned  by  government  on 
these  waters,  the  brig  Oneida,  of  16  guns,  on  lake  Ontario,] 
commanded  by  lieutenant  Woolsey.     In  the  beginning  of  Oc- 
tober, cdmmodore  Chauncey  arrived  at  Sackett's  Harbour  with! 
a  body  of  seamen,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  the  command,  andj 
several  schooners  which  had  been  employed  as  traders  on  the 
lake  were  instantly  purchased  and  fitted  out  as  vessels  of  war,| 
«nd  lieutenant  Elliot  was  despatched  to  lake  Erie  to  make  ar- 
rangements there  for  building  a  naval  force  superior  to  that  of  I 
the  enemy.    Elliot  had  not  been  many  days  at  Black  Rock,  be] 
fore  an  opportunity  offered  for  a  display  of  the  most  determin- 
<3d  courage. 

On  the  morning  of  the  8th  of  October,  two  armed  British! 
vessels  the  brig  Detroit,  late  the  United  States  brig  Adams, 
and  the  brig  Caledonia,  came  down  the  lake  from  Maiden,  ann 
anchored  under  the  guns  of  fort  Erie,  which  is  situated  near!j| 
opposite,  and  within  a  few  miles  of  Black  Rock,  on  the  Nia- 
gara, near  where  it  leaves  the  lake.     Elliot  instantly  determin- 
ed to  make  an  attack,  and  if  possible  get  possession  of  them; 
and  accordingly  despatched  an  express  to  hasten  the  arrival  of  1 
some  sailors  who  were  hourly  expected.     The  sailors  arrived 
about   12  o'clock,  50  in  number.      Though  wearied  with  a] 
mareh  of  500  miles*  they  were  only  allowed  till  midnight  to  re- 


|i         ilJM 


•  Port  Folio. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAK. 


33 


fresh  themselves,  when,  being  reinforced  by  50  of  the  regular* 
land  forces,  they  put  off  from  the  mouth  of  Buffaloe  creek  in* 
two  boats,  with  lieutenant  Elliot  at  their  head.  Having  rowed' 
intxj^the  lake  abov<  the  vessels,  they  drifted  down  with  the  cur- 
rent, till  they  were  hailed  by  a  centinel  on  board  one  of  them, 
when  they  instantly  sprang  to  their  oars,  and,  closing  in  upon 
the  vessels,  they  jumped  on  board,  drove  the  British  belovv-^, 
and  in  ten  minutes  from  their  getting  along  side,  the  prisoners 
were  all  secured,  the  topsails  sheeted  home,  and  the  vessels 
under  way.  Unfortunately  the  wind  was  not  sufficiently  strong 
to  carry  them  up  against  a  strong  current  into  the  lake,  and 
both  ran  aground.  The  Caledonia,  however,  was  beached  un- 
der the  protection  of  one  of  the  batteries  at  Black  Rock,  but 
the  Detroit  lay  near  the  head  of  an  island  in  the  middle  of  Nia- 
gara river,  exposed  to  the  batteries  and  flying  artillery  of  the 
enemy.  The  Americans  returned  their  fire  from  the  Detroit; 
but  finding  they  could  not  bring  the  guns  to  bear  with  advan- 
tage, the  prisoners  were  all  got  on  shore,  and  the  brig  was  de- 
serted. In  the  course  of  the  day  several  unsuccessful  attempts 
were  made  by  the  British  to  board  and  destroy  the  military 
stores  in  the  Detroit;  but  a  considerable  portion  of  them  was 
secured  by  the  Americans,  after  which  she  was  set  on  fire  and 
abandoned. 

The  Caledonia  belonged  to  the  N.  W.  Company,  and  waa 
loaded  with  peltry,  which  was  estimated  at  150,000  dollars. 
The  Detroit  was  a  government  vesdel,  which  was  captured  at 
Detroit.  She  was  laden  with  military  stores,  and  had  on  board 
sixty  men  and  thirty  American  prisoners.  She  mounted  six 
guns.  The  Caledonia  mounted  two  guns,  and  she  had  1 2  men, 
and  10  prisoners  on  board.  The  loss  of  the  Americans  in  this 
gallant  exploit  was  only  two  killed  and  four  wounded. 

The  force  stationed  on  the  Niagara  frontier  consisted  of  about 
5000  men,  of  whom  the  majority  were  militia,  under  the  com- 
mand of  general  Van  Rensselaer.  The  ardour  of  the  troops 
having  been  very  much  excited  by  the  successful  issue  of  the 
enterprize  of  lieutenant  Elliot,  an  invasion  ©f  Canada  was  de- 
termined on,  and  accordingly,  on  the  morning  of  the  1 3th  of 
October,  the  troops  at  fort  Niagara  and  Grand  Niagara,  hav- 
ing been  marched  to  Lewistown  the  preceding  evening,  the 
soldies  began  to  embark  at  the  dawn  of  day,  under  cover  of  a 
battery  mounting  two  18  pounders  and  two   sixes. 

To  accomplish  their  landing  on  the  opposite  shore,  they  ha* 
only  12  boats,  each  capable  of  conveyine-  20  men.  The  move- 
ment  being  soon  discovered  by  the  enemy,  a  brisk  fire  ofmus- 
quetry  was  poured  from  the  whole  line  of  the  Canada  shore, 

D 


r 


3i 


UTSTORT   OF  THE  WAR. 


'% 


EitherXmayed  by  the  dlsorhTr  .•'"'"'  "l^''<="'y  "b^-d- 
anrp  ^f  ,.«;«f  ^  ^  "*  °*  *^^^  Indians,  or  by  the  aDDear- 
ance  of  reinforcements  which  were  seen  marchine-  from  fnr 

down  the  heights  Gel^'^  Z^i'^T  '■'P"''"=''  ""''  <'"™« 
t>d  »n,ii,;I;T  J  ^"'"*' "'^<^''»  who  CO  imandcd,  was  kill- 
Id,  and  his  a,d-de-camp  mortally  wounded. 

toTeX  thetidge'^TS;  ^fctd^Z^  ""T"-^'  "•"  f'"^" 
able  the  light  artiUcry,  senam^H ',  ''  '■^»''';""g  unservice- 
:.n,1  ,  „,«  ,?r  .u   "      /'  ^'-P'" ■>'.<■<'  I')-  sonic  niisappiehcnsirai. 

FcVr"cScers;  and  60  meri-hiriL^jT  Lodf',  '^"'"^  "^'""^ 

i  ^Li      I  JUS  £nicill  body,  however,  advan- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


S5 


red  to  the  batteries,  attacked  and  took  two  of  them  in  succes- 
sion, spiked  the  cannon,  and  took  a  number  of  prisoners. 
They  then  retreated  down  the  Niagara,  where  they  found  two 
boats,  on  board  of  which  thirty  of  the  privates,  three  officers, 
and  all  the  prisoners  embarked,  leaving  behind  a  captain  and 
30  men,  who  were  captured  by  the  British  before  the  boats 
could  return. 

Meanwhile,  as  soon  as  day,  began  to  appear,  all  the  troops  in 
i*he  neighbourhood  were  marched  to  the  place  of  embarkation. 
A  part  of  the  detachment  which  had  passed  to  the  opposite 
shore  having  now  returned  and  excited  apprehensions  for  the 
residue,  about  350  men  under  colonel  Winder  put  off  in  boats 
for  their  relief,  and  a  part  of  this  force  had  landed,  when  a  su- 
perior force  with  a  piece  of  artillery  appeared.  A  retreat  was 
then  ordered,  which  was  effected  with  a  loss  of  six  killed  and 
twenty-two  wounded. 

The  general  embarkation  now  commenced;  but  there  not  bc- 
mg  a  greater  number  of  boats  than  would  hold  1500  men,  a 
<  uncil  of  officers  was  held,  at  which  it  was  determined,  that 
as  positive  orders  had  been  received  not  to  cross  with  less  than 
3000  men,  it  was  inexpedient  to  make  the  attempt  until  a  suf- 
ficient number  of  boats  could  be  procured  for  the  whole  num- 
ber to  embark  at  once;  dependence  being  still  placed  on  the 
volunteering  of  the  militia,  it  was  thought  that  the  actual  num- 
ber of  volunteers  could  not  be  determined  without  an  embark- 
ation. The  boats  were  accordingly  moved  a  short  distance  up 
the  river,  and  the  troops  disembarked. 

An  additional  number  of  boats  being  procured,  another  em- 
barkation took  place  on  the  morning  of  the  first  of  December, 
but  still  no  attempt  was  made  to  cross.  After  remaining  in  the 
boats  a  few  hours,  the  troops  were  ordered  to  be  withdrawn* 
and  huts  to  be  built  for  their  winter-quacters. 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  mortification  of  the  troops  on  this 
occasion,  nor  indeed  the  disgust  felt  generally  throughout  the 
country.  Proclamations  had  been  issued  by  general  Smyth  a 
short  time  previous,  in  which  reflections  had  been  cast  on  the 
conductors  of  the  former  enterprises  against  Canada,  and  the 
♦'men  of  New-York"  had  been  called  on  to  join  the  army  for 
a  tew  weeks,  and  acquire  glory  and  renown  under  his  banners 
A  number  of  volunteers  had  been  collected  by  Uiis  invitation, 
some  ot  whom  had  come  a  considerable  distance.  Their  mor- 
tihcation  may  easily  be  conceived! 

General  Smyth,  in  his  official  report,  relies,  for  his  iu«fifira- 
non,  on  the  positive  orders  that  he  had  received  not  to  cross 
witiiout  3000  men  at  once,  and  states  that  considerably  less 


36 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


■ 


mi 


A     3 


measures  for  ascfrtaimflTthe  "iren^th  „f  .h  ""=  '™*"*^'*  **«" 
have  been  adopted  without  suehrwast  of  nl^n  ?•'''•  "^ 
and  suchade-jradationof  the  n  iL™  k  ^  '"^  patriotism, 
public  mind  was  never  so  m^tef^f*"-  P^'h^P'the 
dence  so  „uch  shake^aron^thUoecS.^"'  "<"  P-Wic  conli. 

of  5;e''eKrot^rtre?eC:rarext  ?'  '\'  '"^^  ^'  °"«'"'  »-> 
of  Indian  warfererexcited  the  mo.?i™  f™"'"'V  '» «he  ravages 
out  the  western  cour*y  The  arLrdJ  ^'"'Ji^F'^  ?™"Sh- 
and  reinforcement  of  JenemI  Hun  Ld l  ^"^^  *?"■  ""^  ■•*"«' I 
dezvous  under  generaf  H^^rton^a  itlvme"  a'ndTed  B  T 
early  m  August,  and  on  the  leceint  of  .hi  i,f,  ir  ^f^' 

capltulationr  volunteers  poured  £  so  tlf'^T^  "^^^^ 
Kentucky  and  Ohio,  that  it  herL^  "  '''°'"  =>"  P^'"  of 

than  to  eLite  thHrdot  „f '4?drenr:nd'"'^?°  "'"r' 
*eie  discharged,  and  with  difficuhln!!  '  •?  f  ™"  mimben 
their  homes.-  diHiculty  prevailed  on  to  return  to 

of  S:\™n"eTpo"r'^'e'IS"  7^  '''™"'"  ">  ">«  «'-' 

tember  withlb^m  2500  me„™whe„ce  X'  ™  ""^  ^^  "^  ^"^P" 
rangements  and  receivinrhi'sliS  l,"  "^^^P'^'-nS  his  ar. 
the  5th  for  Fort  Wavne  a  n„«  -f^.  ?^^'.  ^^  matched  on 
the  rivers  StM^rv  and  S,   T     f '""^"^  "  the  confluence  of 

assume  tL':;amr^fTh?Milr ff^htfakf"^^'^'^  j^^'^l'- 
been  for  some  time  invested  bv  hLiiit  i  ^-       V"^  P°"  ''^'' 

ing  of  the  approach  of  XrisLtCv'eH^^^^^^        °"  ''^="- 

acct'nt'':rtLtLt?;trer^  fupXr-nr  ^''%°-™''-» 

were  organizedTone  of  whi^h         !,  P"'''"/<=  '*"  ^''P^dition, 

towns,  sLated  upon^he  Waba^h'a  Ht'rh  t^''"?''  ">^  M'"™' 
with  the  Tipnecanoe  rive^  H,f  .V  httle  below  its  confluence 

villages,  wK  stS  ^^Tl^  fa^lt^irjCnh^'TTr" 

A  tew  nnvR  uftt^n  fK«  ..«i o  .,         ^' 

tions,  general  Winch.;;- l^e^atToT ^Xnc-^^tHSt 


[|(|. 


\ 


HISTaRY  OF  THE  WAR* 


3f 


tional  reinforcements,  Winchester  had  been  originally  desti- 
ned to  the  command  of  this  army  by  the  president;  Harrison, 
who  was  governor  of  the  Indiana  territory,  had  merely  been  ap- 
pointed a  major-general  by  brevent  by  the  governor  of  Ken- 
tucky, and  by  him  placed  in  the  command  pro  tempore,  on  ac- 
count of  the  urgency  of  the  occasion.  On  the  arrival  of  Win- 
chester, Harrison  accordingly  relinquished  the  command,  and 
set  out  for  his  own  territory  with  a  body  of  mounted  men,  for 
the  purpose  of  breaking  up  the  Indian  settlements  in  that 
quarter.  He  had  not  proceeded  far,  however,  before  he  receiv- 
ed, by  express,  a  commission  from  the  president,  constituting 
him  commander  in  chief  of  the  north-western  army,  general 
Winchester  to  act  as  second  in  command.  These  counteract- 
ing measures  are  said  to  have  been  owing  to  the  ignorance  of 
the  president,  at  the  cime  of  Winchester's  appointment,  of  the 
brevet  appoi  ment  of  Harrison,  and  to  the  general  expression 
of  confidence  in  -the  latter  by  the  Kentuckians  having  reached 
the  seat  of  government  siiortly  after.  Fortunately  the  measure 
created  neither  jealousy  nor  dislike  on  either  side. 

General  Harrison  arrived  at  Fort  Wayne,  and  resumed  the 
command  on  the  23d  of  September.  The  day  previous  to  his 
arrivm  general  Winchester  had  marched  for  Fort  Defiance  with 
2000  men,  consisting  of  four  hundred  regulars,  a  brigade  of 
Kentucky  militia,  and  a  troop  of  horse. 

In  this  p;irt  of  the  country,  one  of  the  greatest  diificulties 
which  an  army  has  to  surmount,  is  that  which  arises  from  the 
difficulty  of  transporting  provisions  and  stores.  At  all  seasons 
the  rout  is  wet  and  miry.  The  country,  tl  )ugh  somewhat 
level,.is  broken  by  innumerable  little  runs,  which  are  generally 
dry,  except  during  or  immediately  after  a  heavy  rain,  when 
they  are  frequently  impassible  until  the  subsiding  of  the  water, 
which  is  generally  from  twelve  to  twenty-four  hours.  Another 
of  the  difficulties  of  transportation  arises  from  the  nature  of 
the  soil,  which,  being  generally  a  rich  loam,  free  from  stones 
and  gravel,  in  many  places  a  horse  will  mire  for  miles  full  leg 
deep  every  step. 

To  avoid  the  inconveniences  and  dangers  of  delay  in  tra- 
versing this  wilderness,  each  soldier  was  furnished  with  pro- 
visions for  six  duys,  and  general  Harrison  proceeded  to  Fort 
St.  Mary's,  in  order  to  forward  a  detachment  with  supplies  by 
the  Au  Glaise  river,  which  affords  a  water  conveyance  for  a 
considerable  part  of  the  way.  This  detachment  was  placed 
under  the  cominand  of  colonel  Jennings. 

The  army  being  now  in  the  centie  of  a  country  which  pre- 
sentcd  every  facility  for  the  Indian  mode  of  warfare,  the  utmost 


Do 


38 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


kill 


centre.  Near^e  ceXc  'f'Z'K'"-  "^^'  ^^^  '^f  "''"«'  »<i 
in  front  and  rear  Th^V^Zt^f^^fT't'  strong  guard 
distant  from  the  centre      rLr?^''  "'"',•"  «°  °f  '0°  yards 

nerally  about  300  strong,  nyaichlTL^r"'  r^'"^".  "="  K'" 
their  rear  to  be  even  with  ,hf  r      . ,      '"""S'' '"  "dvance  for 

preceded  by  a  compaVof  spies  40* blf^f  ^'"'!-''' '""  ^'''^ 
nerally  one  or  two  mUes  in  advL^ce"  "rh^"'  ^''?  'T^'^  ^o- 
was  covered  by  the  horse        *'^""'^-     ^^^  '•«"  of  Uie  -T-rs 

brus^h^frr"  "T-  "■*  obstructions  occasioned  by  the  u. 

fa^n^  si°x^  tn^.Tet'aX' '%r ^  "^™'-  S''™--  -- 
three  o'clock  'to  lay  ™  and  foAifv  ''•  ^^"^'^"'^ ''""«'' ''''°« 
was  done  by  forminV  round  it  =7  '^    .""'  ?»<=?"'?"»=«.  which 

of  four  or  fiveTet^ he^i"  5.^,^°'"''  "^  '°'^',"'"'  ''"'»"> 
fires  were  kindled  atThe  t^?,,''!,    r     °?"  "'  "  ''*'  '•="'''  ^'n=»» 

the  outside,  abow  twenty^'c  s  loZlT'  "^^  '"'>"  «'"  °" 
On  the  24.th  nf  *i^  J      u*^    I   *^"^  '"^  breastwork. 

the''fi"r:f:r^,^::tef,:5f-?j;;,;^;i;';.'';y^^ 

situation  of  the  enem"  These^alllr'''';K''\''"''^'''  »'' 

tiJC  26th,  about  six  miles  in  adv^nr^  If  a  ^^  ^^^  ^P^^^  ®^* 

night  advance  of  the  encampment  for  the 

ing  on  this  elevation  they  were  fired  on  bv  the  LS.^  ?k1  w'T.: 
ui^muuy  returned,  accompanied  by  a  loud  and  terrifirvHl"  Th^ 
cavalry  were  then  ord^eSTo  advaL.^'thTcr^^^^^^^ 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


39 


the  ui 
»'anced  more 
halted  about 
nent,  which 
s  and  brush, 
dark,  small 
ii'ge  tires  on 
I'k. 

^  the  mai'cli, 
ns  was  sup- 
y  were  pur- 
ng  pressed, 
npraticable. 
s,  and  four 
h  on  to  Fort 
rcngth  ajKl 
wever,  haci 

to  conduct 
U  the  same 
i  most  bft .  - 
he  spies  on 
nent  for  the 

y  the  dead) 
ey  had  not 
of  Indians 
.  on  which 
3  comman- 
placed  his 
)f  the  trail, 
mbuscade, 
hije  form- 

yell.  The     ^ 


dians  on  their  approach  raised  the  retreat  yell,  and  precipitately 
fled  to  the  swamps  and  thickets.  The  pursuit  was  continued 
for  two  or  three  miles;  the  nature  of  the  country,  however,  ren- 
dered it  impossible  to  act  with  effect.  In  this  skirmish  only 
one  American  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  ankle.  The  Indians 
were  supposed  to  have  suffered  more  severely,  as  several  trails 
of  blood  were  discernible.  After  interring  the  remains  of  their 
imfortunate  brethren,  the  detachment  returned  and  took  their 
usual  station  in  front  of  the  army. 

On  the  28th,  shortly  after  forming  the  line  of  march,  four 
Indians  were  discovered  and  fired  on  by  the  spies,  but  without 
erlect.     A  general  engagement  being  now  expected  to  take 
place,  the  order  of  battle  was  formed;  but  no  enemy  appearing, 
the  line  of  march  was  recommenced,  and  the  advanced  part  of 
the  horse  was  ordered  to  push  forward  to  ascertain  whether  or 
not  a  strong  force  of  the  enemy  was  at  hand.     In  a  short  time 
a  Iresh  trail  of  Indians  was  discovered.     These  indications  of 
the  near  approach  to  the  enemy  determined  the  general  to  cross 
the  river  as  soon  as  possible,  and  accordingly  a  tolerable  ford 
bemg  discovered  by  the  troopers,  the  army  passed  over  and  en- 
camped  on  the  opposite  shore.     Here  a  fresh  trail  was  per- 
ceived nearly  equal  to  the  one  made  by  the  army,  which  was 
supposed  to  be  the  trail  made  by  Jenning's  detachment,  a  sup- 
position which  was  hailed  with  joy  by  the  soldiers,  whose  pro- 
visions  were  now  exhausted.     Their  joy,  however,  was  but  of 
short  duration.     A  party  of  horse,  who  had  been  dispatched 
down  the  trail,  reported  on  their  return  that  it  had  been  made 
by  a  large  force  of  the  enemy,  whose  encampment  they  had 
discovered  about  three  miles  below,  two  miles  above  Fort  Defi- 
dh^  ^^d^  ^^^^  burning,  war  poles  erected,  and  the  bloody  flag 

,  Late  on  the  night  of  the  29th  an  express  arrived  from  Jen- 
mngs  s  regiment,  stating  that  they  were^encamped  on  the  Au 
l^Tlaize,  40  miles  above  Fort  Defiance,  where  Jennings  had  been 
ordered  to  erect  a  block-house.  While  mgaged  on  this  duty  he 
had  ascertained  by  his  spies  that  Fort  defiance  was  in  posses- 
sion ot  the  British  and  Indians,  and  he  had  therefore  thought  it 
imprudent  to  proceed  further  without  reinforcements. 

barly  on  the  morning  of  the  30th,  captain  Garrard  and  30  of 
*us  troopers  were  oi;dered  to  proceed  with  all  possible  despatch 
to  Jeimmgs  block-house  to  escort  a  brigade  of  pack  horses 
with  provisions  for  the  relief  of  the  starving  army.  The  de^ 
va.xmicni  reacnea  the  biock^house  in  the  course  of  the  follow- 
ng  day,  and,  after  resting  a  few  hours,  again  set  off  as  an  escort 
\o  the  provisions.    The>  .ejoined  the  army  on  the  evening  of 


v-c:: 


|i    |. 


\k.   I 


;  -'''i 


•',! 


■  i\ 


-5f 


40 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


the  2d  of  October,  drenched  with  36  hours  incessant  rain.  Thi*. 
was  a  joyful  evening  to  the  soldiers.  Provisions  were  now 
plenty,  and  the  escort  was  accompanied  by  their  beloved  gene- 
ral Harrison,  who  resumed  the  command.  During  the  ab- 
sence of  the  detachment,  the  army  had  taken  possession  of 
Fort  Defiance,  the  British  and  Indians  having  retreated  down 
the  river.  l^ 

On  the  4th  of  October,  general  Harrison,  having  left  at  Fort 
Dehance  the  force  which  constituted  the  left  wing  of  the  army 
under  general  Winchester,  retui-ned  to  the  settlements  to  or- 
ganize and  bring  up  the  centre  and  right  wing.  On  the  day 
ot  his  departure,  he  ordered  generalTupper,  with  the  mounted 
troops  under  his  command,  consisting  of  nearly  1000  men;  to 
proceed  on  an  expedition  to  the  Rapids.  This  expedition  was 
never  carried  into  effect.  Its  failure  arose  partly  from  the  un- 
disciplined state  of  the  troops  which  had  beeir  selected  for  the 
enterprize,  and  partly  from  a  disagreement  which  took  place 
between  their  commander  and  general  Winchester,  who  com- 
manded at  Fort  Defiance.  The  inefficiency  of  raw  militia  was 
perhaps  never  more  strikingly  displayed  than  on  this  occasion. 

General  Tuppcr, after  returning  with  his  mounted  volunteers 
to  Urbanna,  was  despatched  with  the  centre  of  the  north-west- 
ern army,  consisting  of  a  regiment  of  regulars,  and  the  Ohio 
volunteers  and  militia,  to  Fort  M' Arthur.  The  right  wing, 
consisting  of  a  brigade  of  Pennsylvania,  and  a  brigade  of  Vir- 
ginia milnia,  were  stationed  at  Sandusky. 

Shortly  after  his  arrival  at  Fort  M' Arthur,  general  Tupper 
organized  another  expedition  for  the  purpose  of  proceeding  to 
the  Rapids  of  the  Miami,  He  left  the  fort  on  the  10th,  with 
a  force  consisting  of  upwards  of  600  men,  the  soldiers  carry- 
ing  provisions  in  their  knapsacks  for  five  days.  On  the  even- 
ing of  the  13th,  being  then  about  13  miles  from  the  rapids  an 
officer  was  despatched  to  examine  the  situation  of  the  enemy, 
by  whom  it  was  ascertained  that  the  British  and  Indians  still 
occupied  the  settlements  and  fort  at  the  rapids;  and  that  the 
boats  and  vessels  lay  a  little  below. 

In  consequence  of  this  information  the  detachment  halted 
until  sunset,  when  they  proceeded  to  a  ford  about  two  and  an 
half  miles  above  the  rapids,  whence  scouts  were  again  detached 
to  observe  more  particularly  the  situation  and  force  of  the  ene- 
my. The  necessary  information  being  «oon  received,  the 
troops  were  ordered  to  cross  the  river,  in  order  to  attack  the 
enemy  at  the  dawii  of  day  Unfortunately,  however,  it  was 
impracticable  5or  the  troops  to  cross.  Every  expedient  that 
could  be  devised  was  unaviuJing,  ami  a  T»umb«r  of  men  v/ho- 


HISTORY  OF  .THE  WA^. 


41 


were  swept  down  the  rapids,  were  vi  h  difficulty  saved,  with 
the  loss  of  their  muskets  and  ammiMt^ion. 

In  the  monung,  convinced  that  he  was  unable  to  get  at  the 
enemy,  general  Tupper  ordered  the  spies  to  endeavour  to  decoy 
them  over;  and  they  accordingly  proceeded  down  and  4iscover- 
ed  themselves.  The  stratagem,  however,  proved  uHj&uccess- 
ful;  for  though  a  few  Indians  crossed  the  river,  they  were  too 
cautious  to  be  drawn  within  the  lines.  The  main  body  was 
then  marched  down  the  Miami,  opposite  to  the  encampment 
of  the  enemy.  They  appeared  in  considerable  disorder  as  thp 
advanced  guard  opened  from  the  woods.  The  British,  who 
were  in  the  vessels  and  boats,  immediately  slipped  their  ca- 
bles and  proceeded  down  the  river.  The  Indian  women  were 
jeen  running  off  on  the  road  leading  to  Detroit;  the  men  com- 
menced a  lire  at  the  detachment  from  their  muskets  and  a  four 
pounder. 

General  Tupper  having  observed  a  number  of  mounted  In- 
dians proceeding  up  the  river,  and  fearful  of  the  camp  being 
surprised,  ordered  the  detachment  to  return.  When  within 
about  a  mile  of  the  encampment,  some  of  the  soldiers,  pressed 
probably  by  hunger,  the  provisions  being  now  entirely  exhaust- 
ed, fired  upon  a  drove  of  hogs,  contrary  to  orders,  and  pursued 
them  nearly  half  a  mile;  others  left  the  ranks,  and  entered  a 
field  to  gather  corn.  At  this  moment  a  body  of  mounted  Indi- 
ans came  upon  them,  killed  four  men,  and  then  commented  an 
attack  on  the  rear  of  the  right  flank.  The  column  being  in- 
stantly thrown  back,  commenced  a  brisk  fire,  which  caused  the 
Indians  to  give  ground;  but  they  quickly  rallied,  and  passing 
along  the  van-guard,  made  a  violent  charge  upon  the  rear  of 
the  left  column.  This  column  was  also  thrown  briskly  back, 
and  every  attempt  made  to  break  the  lines  being  resisted,  in 
20  minutes  the  Indians  were  driven  from  the  field.  Conceiv- 
ing, however,  that  the  charge  of  the  mounted  men  was  merely 
intended  to  throw  the  troops  into  disorder  to  make  room  for  an 
attack  of  the  foot,  general  Tupper  ordered  the  right  column 
to  move  up  into  marching  order,  lest  that  attack  should  be 
made  on  the  right  flank.  This  column  had  scarcely  regained 
their  position,  when  information  was  received  that  the  Indians 
were  crossing  the  river  in  considerable  numbers.  Tupper 
immediately  ordered  the  left  column  to  resume  their  march- 
ing order,  and  proceeded  to  the  head  of  the  right  column, 
where  he  found  that  a  number  of  Indians  had  crossed  on  horse- 


ha 


ck-  that.  •^riTYip.  vjf 


r  iU  _  ^i -_~  J  _t,  . ... . 


200  on  the  opposite  bank.     A  battalion  was  immediately  order- 
ed to  advance  and  dislodge  them.    This  attack  was  success- 


42 


HJSTOHY   OF  THE  WAR. 


I'. 


\^ 


with  ,.l„tols  ^d  h„U  "rf  TnlX;-:nlr  '  '"'"  ^PP'^^O 
their  horaes;  but  they  were  w^^h  f  ""'^  '"^''<=  '■«"  f™"' 

«g»ini  a.,d  carried  off  tie  fie7d  S^niw''"^;",'"'  "'"'™"  o" 
the  rharffes  at  the  rrm,,!,.  P'"  ^°S  '«<'  o"  several  of 

well  c«uLd  white  hT,?  ?rr"K°[1I"'  ""="=■"  "■""'"'d  °"  a 
at  other  dmZhLed(n,IhZT^l'^\^^  sometimes  fired,  and 
ed  that  he  was  wou„de™S  th?»^M   "''  '  "*■=■     ''  "^  ^"PP"'" 

,e?:^tVturw^\HX^ettX:  fehT"'  ^^  -"- 

the?dl\im™\"tpu's^:„"r?'/''Pr.'  ^°»''"'=''<' »<>- 
2000  men.     On  the  east  s?de  rf ^r"^"«  °^  ^^^^^  '  "^  »"<» 
the  rapids,  a  body  of  the  enem!        *j!™''  *  '^^'^  ™'«  ^^ove 
300  BLsh  re^uLf  and  "^Z  r'oo  ti^^'Hr''''"^  "^ 
lamed  the  position  of  the  enemy  Tnnn„     J    ^*™e  ^'"='""- 
tachment  to  advance  and  rnS.'„     ^^  '  ordered  a  small  de- 
treu.     This  straugem  succe^rr'^i!  "'"'='''  »"  'hen  to  re- 
impetuosity  until  they  were^.^^  *"^"'''  '*'"'"^'*  *'"> 
charged,  wLe  repuS,  oTaU  n"rane''rs  wX™' •  i  '"t  °",  "*'"« 
ter,  and  put  to  flieht     FonrtTIn       c^  '^  considerable  slaugh- 

lake  Erie,  several  exneri^tinn/  "'''^  ^"'  «^  ^'^^  borders  of 

met  at  Vincennes,  it  was  ae-reerf  JLf  w  ^'-       ^'"^  ^"'^'''^  ^^^**^ 

ceed  to  the  relief  of  Fort  Harrison  I  nn.?  r  V^'""^^  ^'''  P^ 
bash,  which  was  nf  t^?..-    ^  '     P°^^  ^"S^^^  "P  the  Wa- 

should  then  pmceed  to  theX  '"^""Tv   ^^  '^'  ^"^i^^^'  -"^ 
Illinois,  wher^e  ^e  ^as  to  be  meTh'  !^  '"''"'  ^^  '^"  "^^^ 

Another  detachmem    under  ?    ^  ^^^  ''^"^^''  ""'^^^  R"^^^"- 
<>t  fK«  .„^„  I,   '"*^"^1,."."^.^'^  captain  Crai^r,  was  to  mm  th.«, 
^-"-  puu;c.     1  his  last  dPtaf-i„««^*-::_.. ._       •»:""  ""•:'•• 


.......  eiiiiiv.  puu;c. 

Illinois  river. 


i^,  .      .  — 1-vv.iA.    v^iaiu*     WHS   CO    IQin   th^m 

iius  last  detachment  was  to  marih  upthi 


Bveral  of  th^m 


HISTORY  or  THE  WAR.  a'^ 

Captain  TaWor,  the  commander  at  Fort  Harrison,  liavinerp 
ce.vcd  .„f„rma,o„  of  the  approach  of  the  ho8ti"e  S": 

preTautbn  ih^T"'  T"=  "■«''7PP«=="™ce,  had  used  eTery 
precaution  tha  the  smallness  of  his  garrison  would  adinir„f 
rhe  fir«  hostile  symptoms  appeared  on  the  evSg  of  Z  M 

a  shoS.  hT«*""'  "?'"  'r  ^"K  men,  who  had  beenM^ed 
a  short  distance  from  the  fort,  were  shot  and  <;ri,lT.^^  ^"'pioyea 

found  in  that  condition  the  ne'xt  morn  °g  by  ^stan  Ct?hat 
had  been  sent  out  to  seek  th^n™      tu:  ^  .'      =»'"«*"  party  that 

I  them  to  redouble  their  v^^^^^^^^       aJd   heTffir^'Tt  '""^^^ 

I  were  directed  to  walk  the  round 'alIn5-h^'^!S  ^^-^i"^  ^^^^'^ 

to  prevent  any  surprize  ^^^'' '"  °'^^'  if  possible 

!ed  toL  ala^mt^hrit  wa?dfs;rerd?h^t''lh'eTw?r''bin'- 

ans  succeeded  irfi°Sl  if  "t,di*?"  *'.^""  g°"',>'''  *=  !■««- 

few  mimues  after  th"«di  coTe-^TtS^'fi^^  rit""'''''^'  5 
10  a  quantity  of  whiskv  th^thlA  u        j        •'  ",  commumcated 

'  mediitely  ascendedio  t"?  brfflinr'''''"^  '^.'^'^  ^^  ^"^" 

made  to  extiniyuish  it      aJ^.\  i    ?^^  ^""^"^  ^^^^  ^^a*  was 

,  racks,  which  Sitmed  tr^^^^^^^^^  the  bar- 

men  gave  themselves  un  £1  Lc!        /?^tifications,  most  of  the 

fire,  L  yells^?  the  iX^s    ani't"^^^^  J^t  ^"^^"^  «f  the 

children  (who  had  taken  refu^^^^^         7^^  °^^^^  ^«"^^n  and 

I  appal  the  stoutest  heart     &/,    1^  ^^'^^'  ""^"^  sufficient  to 

<  ommander  never  forsook  wT  V^  ^r'?'"  °^  "^^"^  «f  th\ 

of  his  men  on  the  rrf  of  th^^arrfcks" wkh  ^^  T^'"^^  ^  P^^t 

that  part  adjoining  the  block-hrse  wh  le  th^    '''  'V'^^  ««" 

up  a  constant  fire  on  the  IndJnnc  f.  '  ^^^^^  the  remamder  kept; 

two  bastions.     The  roof  wa^  t.,  n  T  ^T^^'  block-house  an^ 

from  without,  by  >4[ch  11     "  °^.""^^"  ^  shower  of  bullets 

tuo  wounded.  ^  '  ^°''^''^"»  ^^^^  ^^^  «^n  was  killed  ai3 

now^^S^^^lt'i-  n^^f  red  with  firmness,  and 
tinguished  the  fire,  but  raised  fh  ^^  ^^'^^  ^^^  '^^t  only  ex- 
Wgh  in  the  gap  occasioned  by  the  hn"'-"^"?  .^""  «^  «i^  f««t 

appearance  of  the  fire,  two  of  the  soldiers  had. 


HISTORY   9T  THE  WAR. 


mW2 


I  f 


'li 


in  despair,  jumped  the  pickets.  One  of  them  returned  about 
an  hour  before  day,  and,  running  up  towards  the  gate,  begged 
for  God's  sake  that  it  might  be  opened.  On  suspicion  that 
this  was  an  Indian  stratagem,  he  was  fired  at.  He  then  ran  to 
the  other  bastion,  where,  his  voice  being  known,  he  was  direct- 
ed to  lie  down  till  day-light  behind  an  empty  barrel  that  hap- 
pened to  be  outside  of  the  pickets.  This  poor  fellow  was 
shockingly  wounded,  and  his  companion  cut  to  pieces  by  the 
Indians. 

After  keeping  up  a  constant  fire  till  six  in  the  morning, 
which  after  day  light  was  returned  with  considerable  effect  by 
the  garrison,  the  Indians  retreated  out  of  reach  of  the  guns. 
They  then  drove  together  all  the  horses  and  hogs  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood, and  shot  them  in  sight  of  their  owners.  The  whole 
of  the  homed  cattle  they  succeeded  in  carrying  off. 

In  this  attack  the  Americans  had  but  three  killed,  and  three 
■wounded,  including  the  two  that  jumped  the  pickets.  The  In- 
dian loss  was  supposed  to  be  considerable,  but  as  they  always 
carry  off  both  their  dead  and  wounded,  the  amount  could  not  be 
ascertained.  At  the  moment  of  the  attack  there  were  only  fif- 
teen  effective  men  in  the  garrison,  the  others  being  either  sick 
or  convalescent. 

The  Indians,  disheartened  by  this  failure,  made  no  further 
attempt  on  the  fort,  but  the  garrison  still  remained  in  a  peri- 
lous situation,  as  the  greater  part  of  their  provisions  had  been 
destroyed  by  the  fire,  and  the  loss  of  their  stock  prevented  fu- 
ture supplies.  Captain  Taylor  therefore  attempted  to  send,  by 
night,  two  men  in  a  canoe  down  the  river  to  Vincennes,  to  make 
known  his  situation,  but  they  were  forced  to  return,  the  river 
being  found  too  well  guarded.  The  Indians  had  made  a  fire  on 
the  bank  of  the  river,  a  short  distance  below  the  garrison, 
which  gave  them  an  opportunity  of  seeing  any  craft  that  might 
attempt  to  i>ass,  with  a  canoe  ready  below  to  intercept  it.  A 
more  fortunate  attempt  was  made  by  land,  and  the  garrison 
was  immediately  after  relieved  by  the  force  under  genei*al 
Hopkins,  consisting  of  nearly  4000  men. 

After  the  relief  of  Fort  Harrison,  Hopkins  began  his  prepa- 
rations for  his  expedition  against  the  Peoria  towns.  They 
commenced  their  march  on  the  morning  of  the  15th  of  Octo- 
ber, and  continued  it  for  four  days  in  a  direction  nearly  north. 
But  here  again  the  spirit  of  insubordination  began  to  show  it- 
self.   The  general  states  in  his  official  despatch,  that  having 

#\wlA«Wk#l    ft     Vinlf    «*^    fKA  nArkVit-h^^Vh    ^f  4-l«A     Ad-t.     ^»..      I«    ««    £  •«  ^    •«!a<.a   r\C 

-j-iM-„-5i^-^   n  iJttsv  ill   iitv  Kifs-jiitrusi  xji.  iiic    ~lli   Viaj ,  III  SA  S411C    j;iCi.=  U» 

grass,  for  the  purpose  of  refreshing  the  horses,  he  was  ad- 
dressed by  one  of  his  majors,  in  the  most  rude  and  dictatorial 


fllSlroiY    OF  THE  WAK. 


45 


irihhncr,  requiring  him  instantly  to  resume  his  march,  or  his 
battalion  would  break  from  the  army  and  return.  Of  the  re- 
ply of  the  general  ^o  this  modest  request  we  are  not  informed. 
Next  eveuing,  however,  an  event  took  place  which  seems  to 
have»ppcad  the  spirit  of  discontent  through  the  whole  detach- 
ment. A  violent  gust  of  wind  having  arisen  about  sun-set, 
just  as  the  troops  liad  encamped,  the  Indians  set  fire  to  the 
pra^e  all  around  them,  which  drove,  furiously  on  the  camp. 
Thtey  succeeded,  however,  in  protecting  themselves  by  firing 
the  grass  around  the  encampment. 

Next  morning,  in  consequence  of  the  discontent  that  pre- 
vailed, the  general  called  a  council  of  his  officers,  to  whom  he 
stated  his  apprehensions,  the  expectations  of  the  country,  and 
the  disgrace  attending  the  failure  of  the  expedition;  and,  on 
the  other  hand,  the  exhausted  state  of  the  horses,  and  the  want 
of  provisions.  He  then  requested  the  commandants  of  each  re- 
giment to  convene  the  whole  of  the  officers  belonging  to  it,  and 
to  take  the  sense  of  the  army  on  the  measures  to  be  pursued; 
addii)g,  that  if  500  volunteers  turned  out  he  would  put  himself 
at  their  head,  and  proceed  in  quest  of  the  Indian  towns,  and  the 
rest  of  the  army  might  return  to  Fort  Harrison.     In  less  than 

an  hour  the  report  was  made  almost  unanimously  to  return. 

In  vain  did  the  general  request  that  he  might  dictate  the  course 
lor  that  day  only.  His  authority  was  now  at  an  end;  and  all  the 
efforts  of  the  officers  were  necessary  to  restore  order  hi  the 
ranks,  and  to  conduct  the  retreat  without  danger  from  the  siir- 
•i-ounding  though  unseen  iFoe. 

Though  this  expedition  returned  almost  without  obtaining 
the  sight  of  an  enemy,  yet  it  was  not  altogether  unproductive 
04  benefit.  The  Indians  of  the  neighbouring  towns,  hearing  of 
Its  approach,  had  marched  the  greater  partof  their  warriors  to 
meet  it,  leaving  their  villages  in  a  defenceless  condition.  In 
this  state  they  were  found  by  colonel  Russell,  who  had  marcliod 
upon  them  in  the  expectation  of  meeting  with  Hopkins'  amiy, 
and  his  detachment  attacked  and  defeated  those  who  had  been 
left  behind.  Having  driven  them  into  a  swamp,  through  which 
the  rangers  pursued  them  for  three  miles,  up  to  their  waists  in 
mud  and  wSter,  he  returned  and  burnt  their  towns,  and  destroy- 
ed their  corn.  The  number  of  warriors  who  advanced  to  meet 
Hopkins  from  those  towns  is  stated  to  have  amounted  to  700; 
Russell's  force  consisted  of  not  more  than  400  men.  A  con- 
siderable number  of  Indians  were  killed  in  this  attack.  On  the 

part  of  the  Americans  thern  wfirp  nnlv  f^'^r.  iir»..r.<4»,ii c 

tliem  mortally. 

Craig's  force  was  still  smaller  than  that  under  Russell?  it  is 

E 


History  of  the  war. 


■  it 


iSktli 


',  U  '} 


stated  to  have  consisted  of  not  more  than  80  men.  With  thw 
small  body  he  marched  up  to  the  Illinois  river,  twenty  miles 
above  the  town  destroyed  !  Russell.  Here  he  attacked  an  In- 
dian settlement,  which  he  totally  destroyed,  with  all  the  im. 
provements,  and  took  42  prisoners,  one  of  them  an  Englishman, 
and  a  large  collection  of  furs.  He  returned  with  his  prisoners 
and  booty  without  the  loss  of  a  man. 

In  the  month  of  November  another  Indian  expedition  was 
undertaken  by  general  Hopkins,  with  about  1250  men.  This 
was  directed  against  the  towns  of  the  Wabash,  where  the  battle 

of  Tippacanoc  had  been  fought  about  twelve  months  before 

Haying  left  Fort  Harrison  on  the  1 1th,  accompanied  with  boats 
ior  the  transportation  of  provisions,  forage,  and  military  stores, 
Hopkins  arrived  at  the  Prophet's  town  on  the  19th,  without  in- 
terruption. Early  in  the  morning  of  that  day,  300  men  were 
detached  to  urprisc  the  Winebago  town,  on  Ponce  Passu  creek, 
a  short  distance  below  the  Prophet's.  Having  surrounded  it 
about  the  break  of  day,  they  were  surprised  to  find  it  evacu- 
ated. The  party,  accordingly,  after  destroying  it,  rejoined  the 
main  body  at  the  Prophet's  town. 

For  three  days  Hopkins'  detachment  was  employed  in  achiev- 
ing the  complete  destruction  of  the  Prophet's  town,  and  the 
lurgc  Kicapoo  village  adjoining,  the  former  consisting  of  40 
and  the  latter  of  160  cabins  and  huts.  They  likewise  destroyed 
all  their  cultivated  fields,  fences,  &c.  and  constructed  works 
ior  the  defence  of  the  boats  and  of  the  encampment. 

On  the  21st  a  reconnoitering  party  were  attacked  by  a  body 
of  Indians,  and  one  of  their  number  killed.  The  following  day 
60  hors^Tien  were  despatched  to  bury  their  comrade,  and  gain 
a  better  knowledge  of  the  ground,  but  they  unfortunately  fell 
into  an  ambuscade,  in  which  1 8  of  the  party  were  killed,  woun'd- 
ed,  or  missing.  This  party,  on  their  return,  brought  informa- 
tion of  a  large  assemblage  of  the  enemy,  who,  encouraged  by 
tjie  strength  of  their  camp,  appeared  to  be  waiting  an  attack.-^ 
Every  preparation  was  accordingly  made  to  march  early  next 
morning,  to  engage  the  enemy.  A  violent  foil  of  snow,  how- 
ever prevented  the  movement  on  the  23d;  and  the  camp  was 
found  abandoned  on  the  following  day.  The  position  which  the 
Indians  had  thus  abandoned  is  spoken  of  as  having  been  re- 
markably strong.  The  Ponce  Passu,  a  deep  rapid  creek,  was  in 
their  rear,  running  in  a  semicircle  ;  in  front  was  a  bluff",  100 
feet  high,  almost  perpendicular,  and  only  to  be  penetrated  by 
three  siteep  ravines. 

On  the  return  of  the  troops  to  camp,  the  river  was  found  so 
fall  9  ice,  as  to  alarm  them  ior  the  return  of  the  boats.     Hop- 


HISTORY    OF  THE  WAR. 


47 


kins  had  intended  to  have  spent  one  week  more  in  endeavouring 
*o  find  the  Indian  camps;  but  the  shoeless,  shirtless  state  of  the 
troops,  now  clad  in  the  remnants  of  their  summer  dress;  a  river 
full  of  ice;  the  hills  covered  with  snow;  and,  above  all,  the  un- 
certainty of  finding  an  enemy;  all  these  circumstances  deter- 
mined him  to  return.  Tliey  accordingly  set  out  on  the  25th 
and  in  a  few  days  arrived  a  f'ort  Harrison,  having  completed  a 
march  of  upwards  of  100  miles  into  the  Indian  country,  which 
is  totally  devoid  of  roads,  and  destroyed  three  of  their  principal 
towns,  in  the  space  of  less  than  twenty  days. 

The  last  Indian  expedi'tion  of  which  mention  is  made,  in  this 
quarter,  is  one  which  was  commanded  by  colonel  Campbell,  coiv- 
sisting  of  600  men,  which  marched  from  Greenville  (Ohio) 
against  the  towns  on  the  Mississinewa,  a  branch  of  the  Wabash. 

On  the  17th  of  December,  after  marching  all  night,  Camp- 
bell arrived  at  one  of  the  towns  about  day-break,  which  he  in- 
stantly attacked,  and  the  Indians  were  driven  across  the^.-^s- 
sissinewa  river,  with  the  loss  of  7  killed  and  37  prisoners.  Only 
one  American  was  killed  and  one  wounded  in  this  skirmish.— 
After  securing  the  prisoners  a  part  of  the  detachment  was  de. 
spatched  down  the  river,  who  retitmed  the  same  day,  having 
burned  three  villages  without  r^listance.  They  then  encamped 
on  the  ground  where  the  first  village  stood. 

The  following  morning  a  little  before  day-light,  the  camp 
was  attacked  by  a  body  of  Indians,  supposed  to  be  about  300. 
1  hey  commenced  their  attack  on  the  right,  vnth  a  horrid  yell. 
Alter  a  desperate  conflict  of  about  three  quarters  of  an  hour, 
a  charge  was  made  by  the  cavalry,  which  forced  the  Indians  to 
retreat,  leaving  40  killed  on  the  field.  InthkaffHrthe  Amer- 
icans had  eight  killed,  and  twenty-five  or  thirty  wounded 

Anotiier  attack  was  anticipated,  as  information  was  received 
that  recumseh,  with  four  or  five  hundred  warriors  >vas  only 
htteen  miles  from  the  scene  of  action;  but  reinfor^fnuits  short^ 
ly  after  arriving  from  Greenvillp,  they  effected  thei¥  retrjJiyt 
without  molestation.  f      '-  .       W 

A  small  body  of  Georgia  volunteers  had  been  collected  Mv 
in  August,  for  an  expedition  against  the  Indians  on  our  Souths 
em  border,  where  considerable  depredations  had  been  com- 
mitted. Several  unforeseen  circumstances,  however,  prevented 

wL  ;^'  ^''''f'^  '"^^  '^^^^^'  ""^^^  t^^  24th  of  September, 
wnen  the  detachment,  consisting  of  only  1 17  men,  wrdi  twelve 
horses,  marched  from^St.  John's  under  the  command  of  colonel 
n?,?!,  agamst  tiie  A.otchaway  towns  in  East  Florida.  This 
small  torce  carried  with  them  only  four  days'  provisions. 

Ihe  detachment  left  St.  John's  in  the  evening,  marching  in 


'Xr 


I 


X 


4« 


HiSTORY  OF  THE  WjV^ 


Indian  file,  with  a  small  party  in  front  and  in  rear>  the  openness 
ot  the  country  rendering  it  unnecessary  to  employ  ir.en  on  the 
right  and  left.  The  encampment  at  nights,  there  being  thr^e 
companies,  was  ill  the  form  of  a  triangle,  with  the  baggage  in 
the  centre;  the  men  lying  with  their  clothes  on,  their  feet  point- 
ing outwards,  and  their  firelocks  in  their  arms.  In  case  of  an 
attack^  the  officers  were  instructed  to  bring  up  their  companies 
upon  the  right  and  left  of  the  company  fronting  the  enemy,  and 
to  follow  the  Indian  mode  of  fighting  until  ordered  to  charge. 
In  case  of  meeting  the  enemy  on  the  march,  the  first  compa. 
ny,  which  consisted  of  riflemen,  was  instructed  to  file  oft'  to  the 
right,  the  centre  company  to  advance  and  form  to  the  front  in 
single  rank,  and  the  company  in  the  rear  to  file  off"  to  the  left; 
th3  whole  then  to  advance  in  the  form  of  a  crescent,  and  en^ 
deavour  to  encircle  the  enemy. 

On  the  morning  of  the  fourth  day,  when  within  a  few  miles 
of  the  Indian  towns,  the  party  in  advance  discovered  a  body  of 
Indians  marching  along  the  path  meeting  them.     The  compa- 
nies were  immediately  ordered  to  advance  according  to  the  pre- 
vious  instructions,  which  appeared  exactly  suited  to  the  situa- 
tion m  which  the  enemy  was  found,  and  Newnan  placed  him- 
self at  the  head  of  the  centre  Company.    The  Indians  were  now 
seen  falling  back  and  making  preparations  for  battle,  by  un- 
shngmg  their  packs,  trimming  their  rifles,  and  fonhing;  and 
the  Americans  continued  to  advance,  taking  advantage  of  the 
trees  in  their  progress,  until  within  musket  shot  of  the  enemy, 
when  many  of  the  Indians  began  to  fire.     The  charge  being 
now  ordered,  thQ.  enemy  were  forced  precipitately  to  retire,  and 
take  refuge  in  a  swamp.     Unfortunately  the  riflemen  in  filuig 
to  the  right,  inadvertantly  took  too  great  a  circuit,  by  which 
means  a  small  swamp  was  inteppv.sed  between  them  and  the 
Indians,  which  rendered  the  victory  less  decisive  than  it  would 
have  beenjiad  the  whole  charged  together  before  the  Indians 
dispersed.      The  action,    including  the  skirmishing  on  the 
flanks,  lasted  two  hours  and  a  half,  the  Indians  having  frequently 
attempted  to  outflank  and  get  in  the  rear  of  the  detachment, 
but  were  always  repulsed,  by  the  companies  extending  to  the 
nght^  and  left.      The  detachment  had  one  killed  and  nine 
Avounded  in  this  aff'air.    The  loss  of  the  Indians  was  more  con- 
siderable.    Among  the  killed  was  their  king  Payne. 

The  Americans  remained  on  the  ground  to  watch  the  mo- 
tions of  the  Indians,  who  were  now  seen  near  the  swamp,  paint- 
ing themselves,  and  in  consultation,  which  indicated  an  inten- 
tion of  renewing  the  combat.     Accordingly  half  an  hour  before  *  I 
sun-set,  having  obtained  a  considerable  reinforcement  of  nc- 


RiSTOIiy  or  THE  VTAn. 


4<r 


V 

gross  and  ImUaus  from  their  towns,  they  commencf  d  the  most 
horrid  yells,  imitating  tho  cries  and  noise  of  almost  every 
animal  of  the  forest,  their  chiefs  advancing  in  front  in  a  stoop- 
ing serpentine  manner,  and  making  the  most  wild  and  frantic 
gestures,  until  they  approached  within  two  hundred  yards^ 
when  they  commenced  firing.  The  soldiers  remained  perfectly- 
still  and  steady  behind  logs  and  trees,  until  the  enemy  had  ap- 
proached somewiiat  nearer,  when  a  brisk  and  well  directed  fire 
soon  drove  them  back  to  their  original  ground.  The  action 
lasted  until  eight  o'clock,  when  the  enemy  were  completely 
repulsed.  Two  men  were  killed  and  one  wounded;  the  enemy 
carried  off  several  of  their  men  before  it  was  dark — after  which 
all  firing  was  at  the  spot  from  whence  the  flalh  arose.  After 
thus  fighting  all  day,  the  detachment  had  to  work  throughout 
the  whole  of  the  night,  and  by  day-light  had  completed  a  toler- 
able breast-work  of  logs  and  earth  with  port-holes- 

As  soon  as  it  was  dark  one  of  tlie  officers  was  despatched  to 
St.  John's  for  reinforcements  and  provisions,  and  six  of  the  men 
took  the  liberty  to  accompany  him,  taking  with  them  some  of 
the  best  horses. 

For  two  days  succeeding  the  battle,  nothing  was  seen  nor 
heard  of  the  enemy;  but  on  the  evening  of  the  third  day  they 
commenced  firing  at  their  works  at  long  distance,  and  renewed 
it  every  day  for  five  or  six  days,  but  without  effect. 

Seven  or  eight  days  having  elapsed  since  the  express  had 
left  them,  hunger  was  staring  them  in  the  face,  and  they  were 
now  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  eating  one  of  the  horses;  thev 
had  no  surgeon  to  dress  the  wounded,  and  apprehensions  were 
entertained  that  the  enemy  would  receive  reinforcements  froni 
Augustme,  or  the  Makasukie  Indians.  Expecting  relief,  how- 
ever,  every  hour,  Newnan  was,unv^illing  to  leave  the  breast- 
work while  a  horse  was  left  to  eat;  but  one  of  the  captains  de- 
clared that  he  was  determined  to  set  off  with  his  company;  and 
many  ot  the  mqn,  giving  up  all  hopes  of  relief,  talkedof  desert- 
ing m  the  night  rather  than  perish  or  fall  a  sacrifice  to  the  mer- 
ciless negroes  and  Indians,  whom  they  were  taught  to  believe 
would  surround  them  in  great  numbers  in  a  few  days. 

In  this  trying  situation,  the  few  remaining  horses  bemg  shot 
down,  and  the  number  of  sick  daily  increasing,  Newnan  reluc^ 
tanUy  consented  to  leave  the  works,  ond  directed  the  litters  to 
be  prepared  to  carry  the  wounded.  About  nine  in  the  svening 
they  conaijienced  their  distressing  march,  carrying  five  wound- 
ed men  in  litters,  and  supportine-  two  or  three  mnrp?  nnr!  k^.-i 
not  proceeded  more  than'eight  niiies,  when  th^  meu  became 

E.2 


(I 


iO 


HISTORY  OF  the' WAR. 


rii 


I 


perfectly  exhausted  from  hunp^cr  and  fatigue,  and  were  unabie 
to  carry  the  wounded  any  farther.  ^  ^^' 

nnM^l?  I'k '^^  '''^'^''^  "^^^  peculiarly  unfortunate;  for  they  had 
0  left  the  breast-work  more  than  two  hours  wh^n  twenty-five 
orsemen  with  provisions,  arrived  to  their  relief,  on  a  diftliela 
rd1her.t''T/'.'^  had  taken,  but,  finding  th;  place  desert' 
ect  on  the  Zh  H  .'•  "^"^^"^'^^^  «>«"  that  had  been  'cspatch- 
m  ssL' them  .  i^l  *'«''«^.'"*^"  ^'^^^e,  by  some  mean,  or  other 
missmg  thtm.  1  hey  again  constructed  a  plan  of  dc^nce,  and 
a  sergeant-mapr  with  one  private  was  despatched  to  Sto 
to  learn  what  had  occasioned  the  delay  of  ?he  supplies  ' 

1,,%'^  T?  T'^  the  spirit  of  insubordination  begin  to  display 

peM  aiain  to  :rd  "  .f '^  ^"  '!"'  ^^^^"^°«"'  ^^^wLi  was  con' 
pellea  again  to  order  the  march.     They  had  scarcely  marched 

verert^:'lt7s;7's^''''VT"  ^^'''''  °^  ^'^^  detachn/ent  disco- 
verea  the  heads  of  several  Indians  on  both  sides  of  the  nath 

from  among  some  trees  that  had  been  laid  pristmte  by  a  hu  ' 

ncone;  at  the  same  instant,  the  enemy  fired  upon  die  advanced 

par^y,  and  ahot  down  four  of  them,  one  of  Tom  died  on  the 

spot,  and  two  survived  but  a  few  days.    The  niom^nt  t  e  faW 

was  heard,  the  detachment  was  ordered  to  ctee  Id  tlfe  In! 

dians  were  completely  defeated  in  15  minutes,  nlmrdroppinJ 

their  guns,  and  all  running  off  without  attempting  'to  i  ally !! 

W  of  them  were  left  dead  on  the  field.     The  detachmem'iay 

on  the  battle  gix^und  all  night,  and  next  day  marched  fiv^  m  les 

yhen  they  again  threw  up  breast-works  between  two  21; 

arrival  ot  the  provisions  aiiu  horses,  when  they  were  enabled 
to  pmceed  to  St.  John's.  The  number  of  IndLria  the  S 
ngagement  was  from  75  to  loO.  In  the  second  engagemen 
their  number,  (includmg  negroes,  who  are  their  best  soldiers 
was  double  that  of  the  Americans;  and  in  the  third  en  va^c- 
mem  there  appeared  to  be  50,  which  was  nearly  equal  to  their 
t%''^J  ^^^J  deducting  the  sick  and  wounded.  The  number  of 
ieSff    '''''*'"'^'^'^  '^'''^^  ^^^  ^"^i^»«  "^^i^t  have   been  at 

Another  exjpedition   of  volunteers  was  sent  against  those 
Indians  from  the  state  of  Tennessee  in  tl^.  month  of  Februan' 
?  km/n  ',  '^  ^vere  defeated  in  three  engagements,  and 

o8  killed,  a  nmnber  wounded,  and  seven  taken  prisoners.  The 
5n!r'  '?'^'^'"  burnt  their  settlements  to  the  number  of  386 
houses,  destroyed  several  thousand  bushels  of  corn,  and  took 
400  horses,  and  about  the  same  number  of  cattle.  The  Indians 
T«  ♦K^'li        ^'*"  '" "^^'  "vi./ic  liic  ueiacmncni ieil  the  settlement. 

audtc^^r^uSu  """'  ""  ^""™'»»  '-*  -^  »-  "'«-' 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


51 


gainst  those 


We  have  never  seen  the  real  value  of  the  militia,  and  at  the 
same  time  their  total  inadequacy  in  their  present  state,  more 
strikingly  exemplified  than  in  the  official  narratives  of  those 
Indian  expeditions.  The  materiel^  the  stamina  of  the  militia, 
cannot  be  surpassed;  but  as  to  all  other  military  requisites 
they  are  totally  worthless.  When  we  see  them  encountering 
fatigue,  cold,  and  hunger,  without  a  murmur,  and  displaying  in 
battle  the  most  undaunted  bravery  and  resolution,  we  cannot  but 
lament  that  all  those  valuable  qualities  should  be  rendered  of 
none  effect  by  the  total  want  of  subordination  and  discipline, 
without  which  zeal,  numbers,  and  courage  avail  notlung. 

It  rests  with  the  national  legislature  to  apply  the  remedy  to 
this  evil.  The  constitution  has  clothed  them  with  the  power, 
and  it  is  to  be  hoped  they  will  no  longer  refuse  to  make  use  of 
It.  The  system  ought  either  to  be  abolished  altogether,  as  a 
most  extravagant  waste  of  time  or  money,  or  it  ought  to  be 
made  (and  it  is  surely  capable  of  being  made  so)  a  powerful 
and  certain  means  of  national  defence,  by  a  proper  system  of 
national  instruction. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  Constitution  frigate  at  Boston,  after  the 
capture  ot  the  Gurriere,  captain  Hull  received  permission  to 
remain  on  shore  for  the  settlement  of  his  affairs,  and  commo- 
dore Bambridge  was  appointed  to  command  in  his  room.  Af- 
ter undergoing  the  necessary  repairs,  she  sailed  on  a  cruize  to 
the  Last-Indies,  towards  the  end  of  October,  accompanied  by 
the  Hornet  sloop  of  war,  commanded  by  captain  Lawrence- 
but  m  runnmg  down  the  coast  of  the  Brazils,  they  found  the 
Bonne  Citoyenne,  a  British  ship  of  war,  loaded  with  specie 
lying  m  the  port  of  St.  Salvador..  The  Bonne  Citoyenne  was 
a  larger  vessel,  and  had  a  greater  force  both  in  guns  and  men 
than  the  Hornet;  but  so  eager  was  captain  Lawrence  to  eneace 
her,  that  he  sent,  through  the  American  consul  at  St.  Salvador 
a  challenge  to  her  commander,  captain  Greene,  pledHnjr  his 
honour  that  neither  the  Constitution,  nor  any  other  American 
vessel  should  interfere.     This  pledge  was  confirmed  by  com- 

wiTsf  ^^'t"'j^'''  ''^'  ^^.  '^°'"  ^'^  sincerity,  left  the  Hornet 
belore  St.  Salvador,  and  sailed  on  another  cruize.     The  com 
mander  of  the  Bonne  Citoyenne,  however,  did  not  see  fit  to  ac- 
theHorneV         "^^'  ^"^  ^^^^^^^  himself  to  be  blockaded  by 
On  the  29th  of  December,  a  few  days  after  leaving  St.  Sal- 

Ztr^^^X'T-T^^'r^  ^'"""^  '^"^  "°^^^  «^  ^^'^^i''  ^t  "ine  in  the 
mornmg,  iJambridere  discovered  two  strange  aaii  «—  «f  ...u:_i- 

tm!!?'"  l^^f  K^^r  ^^"'^'  \^^  °'^'^"  **«"  Shore  towards 'the^cinsti-' 
tution.    At  half  past  eleven,  the  private  signal  for  the  day  be- 


£2 


SiSTOftY  OF  tUE  WAH. 


i-ii 


m 


mv  Thl  A  "  '  ^^^^l-^^^  it  was  concluded  she  was^  an  ene- 
r?L  .f  ^  A"^^"f a»  «nf  gn  was  hoisted  at  twelve,  and  shortW 
after  the  enemy  hoisted  her  colours.  About  half  pas  one 
the  vesse  being  perceived  to  be  a  British  frigate,  fiSnlriZ' 
tacked  ship,  and  stood  towards  her,  when  she  mmedSv  £ 

mg.     At  two,  the  enemy  being  then  within  a  half  a  mile  of  tho 
Constitution  and  to  ,windward,\nd  having  hauled  down  her  co 
lours  except  the  union,  Bainbridgc  onlercd  a  gun  to  be  fired 

sh;i^  ^^h^niv'?'?"  ^^^^^  ^«^«»^enced  with  round  and  grape- 
shot,  the  British  frigate  keeping  at  a  much  greater  distance 
than  the  conunodore  wished,  but  he.  could  not  bHn^  S  to 
c  oser  action  without  exposing  his  ship  to  be?L  raked  A 
number  of  manoeuvres  >vere  now  made  by  both  v^-ssels  to  ob 
am  a  raking  position,  during  which  the  wheel  o?  he  Constt 
tution  vyas  siiot  entirely  away.  Bainbridge  now  determhS  to 
close  with  the  enemy,  notwithstanding  th? danger  ob^Wr^^^^ 
close  to  t7'"^S-'y  -^  ^^-  f--  -^d  mainsail,  and  lufild  up 

About  4  o'clock,  the  fire  of  the  enemy  being  completely  si- 
lenced;  and  her  colours  in  the  main  rigging  beiiS  down    k 

tTre^rr^'"' ''^^'^'"'^'  ^'^^  the  cSLtiLion!hot  2ad 
to  repair  the  riggmg,  leaving  the  enemy  a  complete  wreck     It 

was  shortly  after,  however,  discovered  that  the  colours  wdre 

^^i:::S{^r^^''^'''''^^^^  --^  of  tt  damage 
the  Constitution  took  a  position  across  the  enemv's  bows    5n 

hL  flag.  '"^'  '"*^  '"^  '"^^  ^'^  P^'"^^"^^y  avoS'by  striking 
B^nbridge  now  sent  his  first  lieutenant  on  board  the  prize, 
which  proved  to  oe  the  Java,  a  frigate  of  the  same  rate  as  the 
Guerriere  and  Macedonian,  but  with  a  much  larger  comple! 
toent  of  men,  havmg  had  upwards  of  400  on  board  at  the  com. 

SdeTfo/t'^n  vT'/''^^^'^"^  ""'^^^  supernumlaX 
wis  atf  In  K^  ^'r''^.  '^'^P'  "^  ^^' ^"  '^^  East  Indies.  There 
comlnd  nf  I  u  ^^^"^«"^t-general  Hislop,  appointed  to  the 
command  of  Bombay,  major  Walker  and  captain  Wood  of  his 
staff,  and  captain  Marshall,  master  and  commander  in  the 
British  naif^-,  going  to  the  East  Indies  to  take  command  of  a 
sloop  of  war  there  The  commander  was  captain  W,ert  a 
veryjistmgmshed  officer,  who  was  mortally  woun^iT  the 


Th«  action  lasted  an  hour  and  fifty-five  minutes,  in  which 


It 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


&Q 


time  the  Java  was  completely  dismasted,  not  having  a  spar  of 
any  kind  standing.  She  had  been  fitted  out  in  the  most  com- 
plete manner,  and  had  copper  on  board  for  a  74  and  two  brigs 
building  at  Bombay;  but  the  great  distance  from  our  coast,  and 
the  disabled  state  of  the  vessel,  forbidding  every  idea  of  at- 
tempting to  take  her  to  the  United  States,  after  removing  the 
prisoners  and  their  baggage,  she  was  set  oa  lire,  and  soon  af- 
ter blew  up. 

The  loss  on  board  the  Constitution  was  9  killed  and  23 
wounded.  The  loss  on  board  the  Java  could  not  be  exactly 
ascertained,  ad  the  officers  were  extremely  cautious  in  speak- 
ing of  the  number  of  her  crew.  Commodore  Bainbridge  states 
it  at  60  killed  and  101  wounded  certainly;  by  a  letter  written  on 
board  the  Constitution  by  yne  of  the  officers  of  the  Java,  and 
accidentally  found,  the  number  was  stated  to  be  60  killed  and 
170  wounded. 

After  blowing  up  the  Java,  Bainbridge  returned  to  St.  Salva- 
dor, where  he  landed  all  the  prisoners  on  their  parole^  to  the 
number  of  3^  I,  exclusive  of  nine  Portuguese  seamen,  who  were 
liberated  and  given  up  to  the  governor  of  St.  Salvador,  and 
three  passengers,  privute  characters,  whom  the  commodore 
did  not  consider  prisoners  of  war. 

On  account  of  the  destruction  of  the  boatr  of  both  vessels  is 
the  action,  nothing  was  taken  from  on  board  the  Java  except 
the  prisoners  and  their  baggage,  the  whole  of  which  was  give© 
up  to  them.  Among  other  valuable  articles  given  up  was  a 
chest  of  plate,  which  had  been  presented  to  general  Hi&lop  by 
the  colonel  of  Demarara.  Commodore  Bainbridge  received 
the  public  acknowledgments  of  the  governor  of  St.  Salvador, 
as  well  as  of  his  prisoners,  for  the  kind  treatment  and  benefi- 
cence which  he  displayed  on  this*  occasion. 

The  Constitution  again  left  St.  Salvador  on  the  6th  of  Janua- 
ry, and  arrived  at  Boston  about  the  middle  of  February. 

Meaiiwhile  the  Hornet  blockaded  the  Bonne  Citoyenne,  un- 
til the  24th  of  January,  when  the  Montague,  a  74  gun  ship, 
hove  in  sight  and  chased  her  into  the  harbour;  but  night  com- 
ing on,  she  wore  and  stood  out  to  the  southward.  Knowing 
that  she  had  left  Rio  Janeiro  for  the  express  purpose  of  reliev- 
ing the  Bonne  Citoyenne  and  the  packet  which  Lawrence  had 
also  blockaded  for  1  %  days,  and  obliged  her  to  send  her  mail  to 
Rio  Janeiro  in  a  Portuguese  smack,  he  judged  it  most  prudent 
to  shift  his  cruising  ground,  and  accordingly  shaped  his  course 
towards  Pemambuco.  On  the  4th  of  February  he  captured  the 
English  brig  Resolution,  of  10  guns,  laden  with  provisions  and 
about  S2 3,000  in  specie j  but  as  she  sailed  dull,  and  he  cou^ 


-<^4*.- 


54 


mSTORY   OF  THE  WJbR. 


1 1     .     .<«»■. 


pf4l  'lift' 


'.*, 
#: 


i 


^nH  ^  /k  ^"^  V""  ""^^  ^^'•'  ^^  took  out  the  money  and  crew 
and  set  her  on  fire      He  then  ran  down  the  coast  for  Mora^^ 
ham,  and  cruised  there  a  short  time,  and  thence  ran  off  S" 
nam.     After  cruising  off  that  coast  fr'om  tile  1 5th   o"he  22d  of 
Febru  ry,  without  meeting  a  vessel,  he  stood  for  Demarara 
Next  morning  he  discovered  a  brig  to  leeward,  which  hTchas 

a  p  lot^'p  eJi^urto^"  •  '^  -\°^lig^d  to  haul  off  for  want   f 
IZa         ^^r  '°"^  Y"  giving  up  the  chase,  however,  he  discov 
ercd  a  vessel  at  anchor  without  the  bar  of  Demarara  river  wUh" 
the  Enghslv  colours  flying,  apparently  a  brig  of  war     In'b^a 
ing  around  Carabona  bank,  in  order  to  tret  at  hoi    »V  >,  if 
three  m  ^He  afternoon  he  discovered  LS^r  sa^I  'on  hifw'eT 
w2d'F    V'^T  ^°^'"  ^"^  ^^"^-     At  20  minutes  pa  1 4  sh^ 

Lieutenant  Shubrick*  was  immediately  sent  on  board  the 
prize,  which  proved  to  be  the  British  brig  Peacock  comm.nH 

o  Scret  weVtkirr":^^^  '"  .^"•''  ^--d  that^a  nuibe^ 
m  ner  ci.ew  were  killed  and  wounded,  and  that  she  w-m  sink 

rhr.1       Ti   t7^^  ^<^ii^eh   were  immediately  brought  to  an- 

e1    bu"  ahh'ofXr '^  '"^'^  despatched  to  briJg  off  tie  woui"- 

hls  tLt  iu  f he''  rr^""'''  ,'^'°^^"  overboard,  the  shot 
noies  that  could  be  got  at  plugged,  and  every  exertion  mnrle 
by  pumpmg  and  bailing  to  keep  her  afloat  umil  tTe  prisZrs 

and  a  ha'lfXr''  '"  ^'^^^'  ^^^^^^^"^''  ^^^  ^he  sun'k "nfi; 
and  a  ha  f  fathoms  water,  carrying  down  13  of  her  crew  and 
three  sailors  belonging  to  the  Hornet,  who  were  nobly  risking 
their  lives  for  the  safety  of  the  vanquished  foe.     A  lieuJenam 


I 


«4tl'S?///^"^''''''^"*/"^  '^^' ^^'d  fortune  to  be  in  the, 
actions  mth  the  Guernere,  Java,  and  Peacock,    ' 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


S3 


to  de  in  the. 


and  othei'  officers  and  men  of  the  Hornet  employed  in  remov- 
ing the  prisoners,  with  difficulty  saved  themselves,  by  jumping 
into  a  boat  that  was  lying  on  her  booms  as  she  went  down. 
Four  of  the  1 3  of  the  crew  of  the  Peacock,  mentioned  as  being 
in  her  when  she  went  down,  were  so  fortunate  as  to  gain  the 
fore-top,  and  were  afterwards  taken  off  by  the  boats.  Previ- 
ous to  her  going  down,  four  of  her  men  took  to  her  stern  boat, 
that  h^d  been  much  damaged  during  the  action,  and  it  is  hop- 
ed reached  the  shore  in  safety;  but  from  the  heavy  sea  runn- 
ing at  the  time,  the  shattered  state  of  the  boat,  and  the  diffi- 
culty of  landing  on  the  coast,  it  is  more  than  probable  that  they 
were  lost. 

The  exact  number  of  killed  on  board  the  Peacock  could  not 
he  ascertained  from  her  officers.  Captain  Peake  and  four  men 
were  found  dead  on  board  by  the  Americans;  the  master,  one 
midshipman,  carpenter,  captain's  clerk,  and  29  seamen  were 
wounded,  most  of  them  severely,  three  of  whom  died  of  their 
wounds  after  being  removed.  On  board  the  Hornet  there  was 
only  one  killed  and' two  wounded  by  the  enemy,  but  two  men 
were  severely  burnt  by  the  explosion  of  a  cartridge  during  the 
a^rion,  one  of  whom  survived  but  a  few  days.  Her  rigging  and 
sails  were  much  cut,  a  shot  passed  through  the  foremast,  and 
-ne  bowsprit  was  slightly  injured;  her  hull  received  little  or  no 
damage. 

The  Peacock  was  deservedly  styled  one  of  the  finest  vessels 
of  her  class  in  the  British  navy.  Her  tonnage  was  supposed  to 
be  about  equal  to  that  of  the  Hornet.  Her  beam  was  greater 
by  five  inches;  but  her  extreme  length  not  so  great  by  four 
feet.  She  mounted  sixteen  24  pound  carronades,  two  long 
nines,  one  twelve  pound  carronade f  i^br  top-gallant  forecastle 
as  a  shifting  gun,  and  one  four,  or  gx^uhder  and  two  swivels 
mounted  aft.  Her  crew  consisted  of  134  men,  four  of  whom 
were  absent  in  a  prize. 

During  the  engagement,  the  L'Espiegle,  the  brig  that  Law- 
rence had  been  endeavouring  to  reach  before  the  Peacock  ap- 
peared, which  mounted  1 6  thirty-two  pound  carronades,  and 
two  long  nines,  lay  about  six  miles  distant,  and  could  plainly  see 
the  whole  of  the  action.  Apprehensions  were  entertained, 
that  she  would  beat  out  to  the  assistance  of  her  consort,  and 
therefore  such  exertions  were  made  in  repairing  damages,  that 
by  nine  o'clock  the  boats  were  stowed  away,  a  new  set  of  s£uls 
bent,  and  the  ship  completely  ready  for  action.  She,  however, 
declmed  coming  out,  and  at  two  in  the  mornine-the  Hnrhpt  o-ht 
under  way.  "^  "-" 

The  moniin^  after  the  action,  Lawrence  fottnd  that  he  haf 


56 


History  of  the  "wav. 


^v 


^"^m 


w^v  V    KKam u 


1277  souls  on  board,  and  therefore,  as  his  own  crew  had  been  on 
two-thirds  allowance  of  provisions  for  some  time,  and  his  sup- 
ply of  water  was  but  scant,  he  determined  to  make  the  best  of 
his  way  to  the  United  States.  He  arrived  at  Holmes'  Hole  on 
the  19th  of  March,  and  a  few  day ^  after  proceeded  down  the 
sound  to  New  York. 

The  kindness  and  hospitality  shown  by  captain  Lawrence  and 
his  officers  to  his  unfortunate  prisoners,  was  such  as  to  pene- 
trate them  with  the  most  lively  gratitude,  which  the  officers  ex- 
pressed  shortly  jifter  their  arrival  by  a  public  letter  of  thanks. 
«  So  much,"  say  they,  «  was  done  to  alleviate  the  distressing 
and  uncomfortable  situation  in  which  we  were  placed  when 
received  on  board  the  sloop  you  command,  that  we  cannot  bet- 
ter express  our  feelings  than  by  saying  «  We  ceased  to  con- 
sider ourselves  prisoners;"  and  every  thing  that  friendship 
could  dictate  was  adopted  by  you  and  the  officers  of  the  Hor- 
net, to  remedy  the  inconvenience  we  would  otherwise  have 
experienced  from  the  unavoidable  loss  of  the  whole  of  our  pro- 
perty and  clothes  by  the  sudden  sinking  of  the  Peacock." 

Nor  was  the  crew  of  the  Hornet  a  whit  behind  their  superi- 
ors in  that  noble  generosity  which  ever  accompanies  true  bra- 
very. As  the  sailors  of  the  Peacock  had  lost  every  thing  ex- 
cept What  they  had  on  their  backs  when  she  went  down,  our 
American  tars  united  to  relieve  them,  and  made  every  English 
sailor  a  present  of  two  shirts,  a  blue  jacket,  and  a  pair  of  trow- 
sers. 

The  frigate  Chesapeake,  commanded  by  captain  Evans; 
sailed  from  Boston  about  the  middle  of  November  on  a  cruize. 
From  Bo&ton  she  ran  down  by  Madeira,  the  Canary,  and  Cape 
de  Verd  Islands;  thence  to  the  equator,  between  longitude  25° 
and  15°  W.,  where  she  cruized  six  week^^.  She  then  sailed 
along  the  coast  of  South  America,  and  passed  within  fifteen 
leagues  of  Surrinam.  Thence  she  passed  through  the  wind- 
ward islands  to  the  coast  of  the  United  States;  near  the  capes 
of  Virginia,  and  thence  along  the  coast  to  Boston,  where  she 
arrived  on  the  loth  of  April,  after  a  cruize  of  1 15  days.  Du- 
ring this  cruize  she  took  an  American  brig,  sailing  under  an 
English  license,  and  three  British  vessels,  one  of  which  she 
burnt  after  taking  out  the  crew  and  cargo.  On  the  first  of 
January,  off  the  Western  Islands,  she  disccrered  two  large 
sail  bearing  down  on  her,  apparently  ships  of  war,  and  lay  too 
until  near  enough  to  ascertain  that  they  were  a  74  and  a  frigate, 
when  she  made  all  sail  and  escaped.  Off  the  canes  of  Virgi- 
nia, about  ten  days  before  her  arrival,  she  gave  chase -to  a  sloop 
df  War,  and  continued  chasing  for  two  days,  when  it  escapedin 
the  night. 


HISTORY   OF  THE  W ^k. 


i> 


The  Chesapeake  continued  in  Boston  harbour  until  the  first 
tof  June,  the  clay  of  her  unfortunate  rencounter  with  the  Shan- 
non. Captain  Lawrence,  of  the  Hornet,  had  a  short  time  pre- 
vious been  appointed  to  command  the  Chesapeake;  and  hard- 
ly had  he  arrived  at  Boston,  when  the  Shannon,  commanded 
by  captain  Broke,  appeared  off  the  harbour,  with  the  avowed 
purpose  of  seeking  a  combat  with  her.  ^ 

"  Stung  with  the  repeated  disasters  of  the  British  frigates, 
this  officer  resolved  to  make  an  effort  to  retrieve  them;  and 
Avhen  he  deemed  his  ship  perfectly  prepared  for  that  purpose, 
sent  a  formal  challenge  to  captain  Lawrence. 

"  '  As  the  Chesapeake,'  his  letter  began,  'appears  now  ready 
for  sea,  I  request  you  will  do  me  the  favor  to  meet  the  Shan- 
non with  her,  ship  to  ship,  to  try  the  fortune  of  our  respective 
(lags.     To  an  officer  of  your  character,  it  requires  some  apo- 
logy for  proceeding  to  further  particulars.     Be  assured,  sir, 
that  it  is  not  from  any  doubt  I  entertain  of  your  wishing   to' 
close  with  my  proposal,  but  merely  to  provide  an  answer  to  any 
objection  that  might  be  made,  and  very  reasonably,  4ipon  the 
chance  of  our  receiving  unfair  support '     After  observing  that 
commodore  Rodgere  had  not  accepted  several  verbal  challen- 
ges which  he  had  given,  captain  Broke  then  proceeds  to  state 
very  minulely  the  force  of  the  Shannon,  and  offers  to  send  all 
Britisii  ships  out  of  reach,  so  that  they  might  have  a  fair  com- 
l)at,  at  any  place  within  a  certain  range  along  the  coast  of  New 
England  which  he  specified;   if  more  agreeable,  he  offers  to 
sail  together,  and  to  wani  the  Chesapeake,  by  meatis  of  private 
signals,  of  the  approach  of  British  ships  of  war,  till  they  reach 
some  solitary  spot — or  to  sail  with  a  flag  of  truce  to  any  place 
out  of  the  reach  of  British  aid,  so  that  the  flag  was  should  be 
hauled  down  when  it  was  deemed  fair  to  begin  hostilities.     « I 
entreat  you,  sir,'  he  concludes,  'not  to  imagine  that  I  am  urged 
by  mere  personal  vanity  to  the  wish  of  meeting  the  Chesapeake, 
or  that  I  depend  only  upon  your  personal  ambition  for  your  ac- 
ceding to  this  invitation.     We  have  both  nobler  motives.    You 
will  feel  it  as  a  compliment,  if  I  say  that  the  result  of  our  meeting 
may  be  the  most  grateful  service  I  can  render  to  my  country; 
and  I  doubt  not  that  you,  equally  confident  of  success,  will  feel 
convinced  that  it  is  only  by  repeated  triumphs  in  even  combats, 
that  your  little  navy  can  now  hope  to  console  your  country  for 
the  loss  of  that  trade  it  can  no  longer  protect.' 
«  The  style  of  this  letter,  with  the  exception  of  the  puerile 

braviidn  about    rni->-ii->inrlo»''^  P«-h-i.v.q«o    Io   c. i.  _._  j  i  i 

...  ■ -■' "•"•' —  •'v'.Lt-..io,  i3   iiai;r>.  iiiiu  iiiuiiiy;  ana 

It  the  torce  of  the  Shannon  were  correctly  stated,  would  be 
such  a  challenge  as  might  well  be  sent  from  a  brave  seamen  to 


5B 


IIISTORY   OP  THK  VAR. 


■^iM- 


a  gallant  adversary.     We,  however,  are  but  too  well  satisfletl, 
that  captain  Broke  studiously  underrated  the  number  of  his 
guns  and  crew;  or  that,  after  his  challenge,  he  must  have  re- 
ceived additions  to  both.     That  the  Shannon  had  more  guns 
than  the  number  stated  by  her  commander,  wo  learn  from  the 
testunony  of  the  surviving  officers  of  the  Chesapeake;  who 
also  assert,  that  she  had  three  hundred  and  seventy-six  men; 
that  she  had  an  officer  and  sixteen  men  from  the  Belle  Poule; 
and  that  the  hats  of  some  of  her  seamen  were  marked  *  Tene- 
dos.'     Such  as  it  was,  however,  this  letter,  most  unfortunately, 
rievcr  reached  captain  Lawrence.     If  he  had  received  it;  if  he 
had  been  thus  warned  to  prepare  his  ship;  if  he  had  had  an 
opportunity  of  selecting  his  officers,  and  disciplining  his  crew; 
it,  m  short,  he  had  been  able  to  place  the  Chesapeake  on  any 
thing  like  equal  terms  with  the  Shannon,  the  combat  might  have 
been  more  bloody;  there  might  have  been  such  an  engagement 
as  has  not  yet  been  seen  between  single  ships  on  the  ocean; 

^ough  we  cannot  ruffer  ourselves  to  doubt  the  result  of  it. 

But  he  knew  nothing  of  this  challenge—he  saw  only  the  Shan- 
non  riding  before  him  in  defiance;  he  remembered  the  spirit 
with  which  he  himself  overawed  a  superior,  and  he  could  not 
brook  for  a  moment,  that  an  enemy,  which  seemed  to  be  his 
equal,  should  insult  his  flag.     Although,  therefore,  the  Chesa- 
peake was  comparatively  an  inferior  ship— although  his  first 
liemenant  was  sick  on  shore— although  three  of  his  lieutenants 
had  recently  left  her;  and,  of  the  four  who  remained,  two  were 
only  midshipmen,  acting  as  lieutenants— although  part  of  his 
crew  were  new  hands,  and  all  of  them  had  lost  some  of  their 
discipline  by  staying  in  port— yet,  as  he  would  have  gone  to  sea 
m  that  situation  had  no  enemy  appeared,  he  felt  himself  bound 
not  to  delay  sailing  on  that  account,  and  throwing  himself,  there- 
lore,  on  his  courage  and  his  fortune,  he  determined  at  once  to 
attack  the  enemy.     It  was  on  the  morning  of  the  1st  of  June, 
1813,  that  the  Chesapeake  sailed  out  of  the  harbour  of  Boston 
to  meet  the  Shannon.     As  soon  as  she  got  under  weigh,  cap- 
tain  Lawrence  called  the  crew  together,  and  having  hoisted  the 
white  flag,  with  the  motto  of  '  free  trade  and  sailors'  rights,' 
made  a  short  address.     His  speech,  however,  was  received 
with  no  enthusiasm— on  the  contrary,  signs  of  dissatisfaction 
were  evident;  particularly  from  a  boatswain's  mate,  a  Portu- 
guese,  who  seemed  to  be  at  the  head  of  the  malccontents;  and 
complaints  were  muttered  that  they  had  not  yet  received  their 
prize-money.     Such  expressions,  at  the  eve  of  an  action,  were 

rant  as  he  was  of  the  characters  of  >is  sailors,  and  upwjJUiig 


:tion,  were 


JflfSTORY  OF  THE  WAR,  5^ 

at  such  a  moment  to  damp  their  spirits  by  harshness,  preservea 
his  accustomed  calmness,  and  had  prize-checks,  at  once,  given 
by  the  purser  to  those  who  had  not  received  them.  Whilst 
this  scene  was  passing,  the  Shannon,  observing  the  Chesapeake 
coming  out,  bore  away.  The  Chesapeake  followed  her  till 
four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  she  hauled  up  and  fired  a 
gun,  on  which  the  Shannon  hove  to.  They  manoeuvred  for 
some  time,  till  at  about  a  quarter  before  six,  they  approached 
Avithin  pistol  shot  and  exchanged  broadsides. 

"  These  broadsides  were  both  bloody;  but  the  fire  of  the 
Shannon  was  most  fortunate  in  the  destruction  of  officers.— 
The  fourth  lieutenant,  Mr.  Ballard  was  mortally  wounded;  the 
sailing-master  was  killed,  and  captain  Lawrence  received  a 
musket  ball  in  his  leg,  which  caused  great  pain,  and  profuse 
bleeding,  but  he  leaned  on  the  companion  way;  and  continued 
to  order  and  to  animate  his  crew.  A  second,  and  a  third  broad" 
side  was  exchanged,  with  evident  advantage  on  the  part  of  the 
Chesapeake;  but,  unfortunately,  among  those  now  wounded  on 
board  of  her  was  the  first  lieutenant,  Mr.  Ludlow,  who  was 
carried  below — three  men  were  successively  shot  from  the 
helm,  in  about  twelve  minutes  from  the  commencement  of  the 
action;  and,  as  the  hands  were  shifting,  a  shot  disabled  her  fore- 
sail, so  that  she  would  no  longer  answer  her  helm,  and  her  an- 
chor caught  in  one  of  the  after  ports  of  the  Shannon,  which  en- 
abled the  latter  to  rajce  her  upper  deck.  As  soon  as  Lawrence 
perceived  that  she  was  falling  to  leeward,  and  that  by  the  Shan- 
non's filling  she  would  fall  on  board,  he  called  his  boarders, 
and  was  giving  orders  about  the  foresail,  when  he  received  a 
musket  ball  in  his  body.  The  bugleman,  who  should  have 
called  the  boarders,  did  not  do  his  duty;  and,  at  this  moment 
commodore  Broke,  whose  ship  had  suffered  so  much  that  he 
was  preparing  to  repel  boarding,  perceiving,  from  this  acci- 
dent, how  the  deck  of  the  Chesapeake  was  swept,  jumped  on 
board  with  about  twenty  men.  They  would  have  been  instant- 
ly repelled;  but  the  captaui,  the  first  lieutenant,  the  sailing 
master,  the  boatswain,  the  lieutenant  of  marines,  the  only  acting 
lieutenant  on  the  spar-deck,  were  all  killed  or  disabled.  At  the 
call  of  the  boarders,  lieutenant  Cox  ran  on  deck,  but  just  in 

time  to  receive  his  falling  commander,  and  bear  him  below. 

Lieutenant  Budd,  the  second  lieutenant,  led  up  the  boarders, 
but  only  fifteen  or  twenty  would  follow  him,  and  with  these  he 
defended  the  ship  till  he  was  wounded  and  disabled.  Lieuten- 
"iiv  ^viUivrv,  nuunvicu  ua  nc  wus,  nurncu  Upon  QccK,  wiierc  he 
soon  received  a  mortal  cut  from  a  sabre.  The  marines  who 
vere  engaged  fpught  with  desperate  courage;  but  they  were 


60 


rilSTORY    Of  THE  WAR. 


,;(" 


few  in  number;  too  many  of  them  having  followed  the  Porta- 
S  belowT"  '  TT'  "'"  ---Jaimedfit  is  said,  as  he  fku Ik- 

MeanwHlI  1  ""Sk  ^''"  " u'  ^^^^"^  "^^"  ^^^^^  prize-money.'-- 
Meanwhile  the  Shannon  threw  on  board  sixty  additional  men 

who  soon  succeeded  in  overpowering  the  seamen  of  the  Ches' 
apeake,  who  had  now  no  officers  to  lead  or  rally  them,  and  took 
possession  of  the  ship;  which  was  not,  however,  su  rendfr^ 
cLtKuT"'  "^  submission,  but  became  the  enemy's  only  be. 
to  resist^  """'"  to  overwhelm  all  who  were  in  a  condition 

"As  captain  Lawrence  was  carried  below,  he  perceived  the 
melancholy  condition  of  the  Chesapeake,  bu   cried  out,VDon't 
give  up  the  ship.'     He   was  taken  dowi  into  the  ward-room 
and,  as  he  lay  m  excruciating  pain,  perceiving  that  the  no^se 
teirthe  l'''''.''  he  ordered  the  surgeon  to  g^o  on  deck    and 

ouis.  'They  shall  wave,'  said  he,  <  while  I  live.'  But  it  was 
too  late  to  resist  or  struggle  longer;  the  enemy  had  already 
possession  of  the  ship.  As  captain  Lawrence's  wounds  would 
not  a  low  of  his  removal,  he  continued  in  the  ward-room,  sur- 
rounded  by  his  wounded  officers,  and,  after  lingering  in  Ueat 
pain  for  four  days,  during  which  his  sufferings  were^too  fcitte 

hXT  ^'V  'P"l^'  ^^''  P^'^^P^'  t«  think  of  the  sad  eve  s 
he  had  just  witnessed,  or  do  more  than  ask  for  what  his  situa- 
tion  required,  he  died  on  the  5th  of  June.  His  body  was  ^.^ap- 
ped  m  the  colours  of  the  Chesapeake,  and  laid  on  the  quarter 
deck,  until  they  arrived  at  Halifax,  where  he  was  buried  with 
the  highest  military  and  naval  honours;  the  British  officers  for- 
getting m  their  admiration  of  his  character,  that  he  had  been 
but  lately  their  enemy.     His  pall  was  supported  by  the  oldest 

r.^?n!'?f  T  ^  '  "•  "^^  '^"'^  ^'  ^"^^^^^'  ^"^  »«  demonstration  of 
respectful  attemion  was  omitted  to  honour  the  remains  of  a 
Drave,  but  unfortunate  stranger. 

« In  this  sanguinary  engagement  thtf  Chesapeake  lost  her 
commander  and  forty-seven  men  killed,  and  ninety-seven 
wounded,  of  whom  fourteen  afterwards  died.  Amon^  these 
were  h^tenant  Ludlow,  first  lieutenant  of  the  ship,  and  lieu' 
tenant  Ballard,  the  fourth  lieutenant,  both  excellent  officers 

«,On  the  part  of  the  Shannon,  captain  Broke  was  dangerous- 
ly  wounded,  though  he  has  since  recovered;  the  first  1!^- 
.  H  '.nH  *^fr "'""'  captain's  clerk,  and  twenty-three  seamen  kill- 
cd,  and  fifty-seven  persons  wounded,  besides  captain  Broke. 

"  1  he  capture  of  the  Chesapeake  is  to  be  ascribed  whnllv  to 
lac  cxiraorcuiiary  loss  of  officers  (a  loss  without  any  precedent", 
as  lar  as  we  can  recollect,  in  naval  history);  and  to  her  falling 


1 


d  the  Portu- 
,  as  he  skulk- 
ze -money.' — 
litional  men, 
I  of  the  Ches- 
em,  and  took 
surrendered 
ny's  only  be- 
n  a  conditioi; 

erceived  the 
1  out, '  Don't 
!  wurd-room, 
lat  the  poise 
n  deck,  and 
:rike  the  co- 
But  it  was 
had  ah'eady 
ounds  would 
l-room,  sur- 
ng  in  great 
re  too  acute 
B  sad  events 
at  his  situa- 
y  was  wrap- 
the  quarter 
buried  with 
officers  for- 
e  had  been 
^  the  oldest 
nstration  of 
mains  of  a 

^e  lost  her 
inety-seven 
nong  these 
>,  and  lieu- 
officers, 
dangerous* 
rst  lieuten- 
amen  kill-. 
1  Broke. 
1  wholly  to 
precedent, 
her  falling, 


IflSTOftY   OF  Tttfi  WAR, 


6r 


accidentally  on  board  the  Shannon.  During  the  three  broad- 
sides, while  the  officers  of  the  Chesapeake,  were  living,  and 
she  was  kept  clear  of  the  enemy,  the  superiority  was  manifest- 
ly with  the  Americans.  The  Chesapeake  had  received  scarce- 
ly any  damage,  while  the  Shannon  had  several  shot  between 
wind  H.nd  water,  and  could  with  difficulty  be  kept  afloat  during 
the  succeeding  night.  It  was  only  when  accident  threw  the 
Chesapeake  on  board  the  Shannon,  when  her  officers  were  un- 
able to  lead  on  the  boarders,  that  captain  Broke  himself,  con- 
trary, we  believe,  to  the  regulations  of  the  British  navy,  left  his 
own  ship,  and  was  able,  by  superior  numbers,  to  overpower  the 
distracted  crew  of  the  Chesapeake. 

"  We  have  heard  many  accounts,  which  Ve  are  very  reluc- 
tantly compelled  to  believe,  of  improper  conduct  by  the  British 
aftui'  the  capture,  and  of  bruta!  violence  offered  to  the  crew  of 
the  Chesapeake.  As,  however,  some  allowances  are  due  to 
the  exasperated  passions  of  the  moment,  something  too  to  the 
confusion  of  a  bloody  and  doubtful  struggle,  we  are  unwilling 
to  prolong  the  remembrance  of  imputations  which  may  be  dis- 
proved, and  perhaps  have  been  exaggerated. 

"  But  we  should  wrong  the  memory  of  captain  Lawrence, 
we  should  be  unjust  to  the  officers  of  the  American  navy,  with 
whose  glory  all  the  aspiring  ambition  of  the  country  is  so  close- 
ly blended,  if  we  omitted  any  opportunity  of  giving  the  last 
and  fairest  lustre  to  their  fame,  by  contrasting  their  conduct 
with  that  of  the  enemy,  or  if  we  forbore,  from  any  misplaced 
delicacy  towards  our  adversaries,  to  report  circumstances 
connected  with  the  fate  of  the  Chesapeake,  which  throw  a  broad 
and  dazzling  light  on  the  generous  magnanimity  of  our  coun- 
trymen." 

Our  readers  cannot  have  failed  to  observe  the  liberality 
which  was  extended  to  the  officers  and  crews  of  the  GuerrierCr 
Macedonian,  and  Java,  and  the  still  more  striking  instance  of 
the  Peacock. -''•  When  the  Chesapeake  was  taken  by  the  Shan- 
non, the  key  of  captain  Lawrence's  store-room  was  demanded 
of  the  purser.  It  was  given;  but  the  purser  observed  at  the 
same  time,  that  in  the  captures  of  the  Guerriere,  Macedoniap, 
and  Java,  the  most  scrupulous  regard  was  paid  to  the  private 
property  of  the  British  officers;  that  captain  Lawrence  had  laid 
in  stores  for  a  long  cruize;  and  that  the  value  of  them  Would 
be  a  great  object  to  his  widow  and  family,  for  whose  use  he 
was  desirous,  if  possible,  of  preserving  them.  This  request 
was  not  merely  declined;  it  was  haughtily  and  superciliously 
refused. 

"  Howpver  we  may  mourn  the  sufferings  of  that  day,  the  loss 

j3 


62 


HISTORY   OP  THE  WAR. 


^  *», 


3.    j! 


'r  t  '  ill 

■  r    ifl 


i 


of  the  Chesapeake  has  not,  in  our  estimation,  varied  ti.e  rela- 
live  standnig  of  the  marine  of  the  two  countries;  nor  does  \t 
abate,  in  the  slightest  degree,  any  of  the  loftiness  of  our  naval 
pretentions.  The  contest  was  wholly  unequal  in  ships,  in  guns 
m  crews,  in  officers,  in  every  thing.  ' 

"The  Shannon  was  a  better  ship;  she  had  not  upon  h*-r  the 
curse  of  that  ill-omined  name,  the  Chesapeake.  The  Shannon 
was  a  stronger  ship;  she  mounted  twenty-eight  eighteen  poun 
ders  on  the  main  deck,  twenty-two  thirty-two  pound  carron- 
ades,  and  two  long  brass  nines  or  twelves,  on  the  spar-deck 
and  a  large  carronade  amidships,  in  all  fifty-tivo  gu7is,  besides 
this  last  heavy  carronade;  while  the  Chesapeake  mounted  twen- 
ty-eight  eighteen  pounders  on  the  main  deck,  and  twenty  thir- 
ty-two pound  carronades,  and  one  eighteen  pounder,  chase 
gun,  on  the  spar-deck,  m  allforty-nme  guns. 

«  The  S4iannon  had  a  better  crew.  Besides  her  comn'ement 
she  had  seamen  from  two  other  ships.     That  crew,  too,  had 
been  long  at  sea;  long  in  the  ship;  were  known;  were  tried- 
and  as  commodore  Broke  sent  a  challenge,  were,  of  course' 
men  on  whom,  if  they  were  not  picked  for  the  occasion,  he 
knew  he  could  confide.     The  Chesapeake  had,  on  the  contra- 
ry,  m  part,  a  new  crew,  unknown  to  their  officers,  not  yet  know 
lug  their  places  or  the  ship.    The  ship  bad  not  been  more  than 
a  tew  hours  at  sea,  and  the  landamen  ?..id  the  landswomen  had 
been  dismissed  from  heron  the  very  day  of  the  engagement 
1  he  officers,  too,  although  we  should  be  last  to  detract  from 
their  merits,  and  although  the  manner  in  which  they  fouelit 
their  ship  docs  them  the  highest  honour,  the  officers   were 
young  and  few  m  number,  and  had  as  yet  hardly  any  opportuni- 
ty  of  disciplining  or  knowing  their  seamen,-  yet,  under  all  these 
disadvantages,  the  great  damage   sustained  by  the   Shannon 
and  the  great  loss  of  her  crew,  all  which  took  place  before  the 
boarding,  warrant  completely  the  opinion,  that,  but  for  the  ac- 
cidental loss  of  officers,  the  vi^.tory  would  have  been  with  the 
Chesapeake*." 

The  brig  Argus,  commanded  by  lieutenant  Allen,  sailed 
from  New-York  about  the  middle  of  May,  having  on  board  Mr 
Crawford,  our  minister  for  France.  She  arrived  at  L'Orient 
on  the  12th  of  June,  and  shortly  after  sailed  on  a  cruize 

On  the  Uth  of  August,  being  then  in  St.  George's  channel 
where  she  made  a  number  of  captures,  she  was  discovered  by 
tlie  Pelican  sloop  of  war,  which  had  been  despatched  in  search 


Port  Foiio 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


63 


of  her.  As  soon  as  Allen  discovered  the  Pelican  he  shortened 
sail,  and  the  two  vessels  got  alongside  about  half  past  five  in 
the  morning,  when  an  action  commenced,  which  was  kept  up 
with  spirit  on  both  sides  for  three  quarters  of  an  hour,  when, 
lieutenant  Allen  being  mortally  wounded,  and  nearly  forty 
others  killed  and  wounded  on  beard  the  A'-gus,  she  struck  her 
flag.  On  board  the  Pelican  there  were  only  two  killed  and  five 
wounded. 

As  the  American  account  of  this  action  has  not  been  re- 
ceived, owing  probably  to  the  death  of  the  commander,  and  as 
the  British  account  is  unusually  barren,  we  are  not  able  to  state 
any  of  the  particulars.  That  the  Pelican  was  much  superior 
in  force,  however,  there  is  little  room  to  doubt.  She  is  rated 
at  two  guns  more  than  the  Argus;  and  it  is  stated,  in  a  London 
paper,  that  in  the  year  1797,  she  beat  off  a  French  44  gun  fri- 
gate, after  an  action  of  two  hours.  There  is  a  circumstance 
nientioned  in  a  Cork  paper,  too,  which  is  totally  kept  out  of 
view  in  the  official  account,  and  which,  if  true,  takes  away  all 
the  honour  of  the  victory,  small  as  it  is,  from  the  enemy.  «  As 
the  action  closed,"  says  the  Cork  paper,  "  his  majesty's  ship 
Leonidas,  captain  Seymour,  fell  in  with  them."  In  Steele's 
List,  the  Leonidas  is  rated  as  a  38  gun  frigate.  That  a  sloop 
of  war  should  surrender  t<  a  vessel  of  superior  force,  when  a 
38  gun  frigate  was  close  aboard  of  them,  is  a  circumstance 
surely  not  to  be  wondered  at. 

A  few  days  after  the  action,  lieutenant  Allen  died  of  his 
wounds,  and  was  buried  at  Plymouth  with  the  honours  of  war 

Previous  to  her  capture,  the  Argus  had  taken  19  vessels! 
most  of  them  in  St.  George's  Channel. 

In  recording  the  loss  of  the  Chesapeake  and  Argus  we  have 
had  to  lament  the  still  greater  loss  of  their  gallant  comman- 
ders. We  have  now  to  record  an  event,  at  the  remembrance 
ot  which  tears  for  our  loss  mingle  with  exultations  for  our  suc- 
cess. 

On  the  first  of  September,  the  United  States  brig  Enter 
prize,  commanded  by  lieutenant  William  Burrows,  sailed  fronj 
Portsmouth  on  a  cruize.  On  the  morning  of  the  3d,  Burrows 
discovered  a  schooner,  which  was  chased  into  Portland  har- 
bour, where  the  Enterprize  was  brought  to  anchor.  Havine- 
received  information  of  several  privateers  being  off  Manhagan, 
he  weighed  anchor  and  swept  out  the  following  morning,  and 
stood  for  that  place.  Next  day  a  lar^e  brie  of  war  was  difirnv- 
ered,  to  which  chase  was  immediately  given.  The  enemy  fir- 
ed several  guns,  and  stood  for  the  Enterprize,  with  four  en- 
signs hoisted.     After  manoeuvei-ing  and  reconnoitering  -fbr 


64 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


i.if  t         '1'— 

h  -;  si 


■: 


some  time,  for  the  purpose  of  discovering  the  force  of  the  ene- 
my, Burrows,  about  three  in  the  afternoon,  shortened  sail,  tack- 
ed, and  ran  dowri,  with  the  intention  of  bringing  her  to  close 
action.  At  20  minutes  after  three  the  firing  commenced  from 
both  vessels,  within  half  pistol  shot.  The  action  continued 
for  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  when  the  Enterprize  ranged 
ahead  of  the  enemy,  rounded  to,  and  raked  her.  Shortly  after 
the  m,ain-top-mast  and  top-sail  yard  of  the  enemy  came  down 
The  foresail  of  the  Enterprize  was  then  set,  and  she  took  a 
position  on  the  starboard  bow  of  the  enemv,  and  continued  to 
rake  her,  until,  about  40  minutes  after  the  commencement  of 
the  action,  the  enemy  ceased  firing,  and  cried  for  quarters: 
their  colours  being  nailed  to  the  masts,  could  not  be  hauled 
down. 

The  prize  proved  to  be  the  British  brig  Boxer,  of  U  guns. 
1  he  number  of  her  crew  could  not  be  ascertained,  but  64  pri- 
soncrs  were  taken,  including  17  wounded.  Captain  Hull,  in  a 
letter  to  commodore  Bainbridge,  describing  the  state  of  the 
Boxer  when  brought  into  port,  says  that  there  was  every  rea- 
son to  believe  that  there  were  lOo  men  on  board.  On  board 
the  Enterprize  there  was  only  one  killed  and  thirteen  wounded, 
two  of  whom  died  of  their  wounds. 

Lieutenant  Burrows  fell  in  the  commencement  of  the  action- 
he,  however,  refused  to  be  carried  below,  but,  raising  his  head' 
requested  that  the   flag  might  never  be  struck.     When  the 
sword  of  the  vanquishe4,  enemy  was  presented  to  the  dyin? 
conqueror,  he  clasped  his  hands  and  said,  "  I  am  satisfied;  I 
die  contented;"  and  then,  and  not  till  then,  would  he  consent 
to  be  carried  below,  where  every  attention  was  paid  to  save  his 
life,  but  in  vain.     A  few  hours  after  the  victory  he  breathed 
his  last.— Captain  Blythe,  the  commander  of  the  Boxer,  also 
fell  in  the  commencement  of  the  action,  having  received  a 
cannon  shot  through  the  body.    His  remains,  in  company  with 
those  of  Burrows,  were  broi  ght  to  Portland,  where  the  two 
commanders  were  interred,  side  by  side,  with  military  honours. 
The  Boxer  was  so  much  damaged  in  her  sails,  rigging, 
spars,  hull,  &c.  as  to  render  it  difficult  to  carry  her  into  port. 
The  Enterprize  received  but  trifling  injury      On  an  examina- 
tion of  the  prize,  she  was  adjudged  wholly  to  the  captors, 
agreeably  to  law,  as  a  vessel  of  superior  force. 

On  the  23d  of  April,  the  President  frigate,  commanded  by 
commodore  Rodgers,  sailed  from  Boston.'  On  the  30th  he  took 
his  departure  from  President  road,  in  company  with  the  Con- 
gress, commanded  by  captain  Smith.  Ori  the  3d  of  May,  while 
in  chase  of  a  British  brig  of  war,  near  the  shoal  of  George's 


HISTORY    OF  THE  WAR. 


© 


een  wounded, 


IjBank,  they  passed  to  windward  of  three  sail,  two  of  which, 
I  from  their  appearance,  and  from  information  previously  receiv- 
ed, were  supposed  to  be  the  La  Hogue,  74,  the  Nymph  fri- 
k'ate,  and  a  merchant  brig.     After  getting  clear  of  George's 
iJJank  they  continued  along  east  southwardly,  in  the  direction 
lof  the  southern  edge  of  the  Gulf  Stream,  until  the  8th  of  May, 
hvhen  the  President  parted  company  with  the  Congress,  the 
Batter  being  in  chase  of  a  vessel,  which  proved  to  be  an  Ame- 
iricun  merchantman.     After  parting  company,  Rodgers  shaped 
jhis  course,  as  near  as  the  wind  would  permit,  to  intercept  the 
■enemy's  West  India  commerce  passing  to  the  southward  of  the 
jGrand  Bank.     Not  meeting  with  any  thing  in  this  direction  ex- 
[eept  American  vessels  from  Lisbon  and  Cadiz,  he  next  pur- 
isued  a  route  to  the  northward,  so  as  to  cross  the  tracks  of  the 
[West  India,  Halifax,  Quebec,  and  St.  John's  trade.  Notmeet- 
m^  any  thing  in  this  route,  however,  after  reaching  the  latitude 
pi  38  degrees  N.,  he  steered  to  thcs  S.  E.  towards  the  Azores, 
off  which,  in  different  directions,  he  continued  until  the  6th  of 
June,  without  meeting  a  single  enemy's  vessel.     At  this  time, 
falling  m  with  an  American  ship  bound  to  Cadiz,  and  receiving 
information  that  she  had,  four  days  befcre,  passed  an  enemy's 
convoy  from  the  West  Indies,  bound  to  England,  Rodgers 
crowded  sail  to  the  N.  E.,  and,  although  disappointed  in    fall- 
ing in  with  the  convoy,  nevertheless  made  four  captures  be- 
[  tween  the  9th  and  1 3th  of  June. 

Being  now  in  the  latitndvi  of  46°  N.,  and  longitude  28°  W., 
Rodgers  shaped  a  course  that  afforded  a  prospect  of  falling  in 
with  vessels  bound  to  Newfoundland  from  St.  George's  Chan- 
nel, by  the  way  of  Cape  Clear,  as  well  as  others  that  might 
pass  north  about  to  the  northward  of  Ireland;  to  his  astonish- 
ment however,  in  all  his  route,  he  did  not  meet  with  a  single 
vessel,  until  he  made  the  Sheetland  Islands,  and  even  off  there 
nothmg  but  Danish  vessels,  trading  to  England,  under  British 
licences.  A  considerable  portion  of  .heir  provisions  and  water 
bemg  now  expended,  it  became  necessary  to  replenish  these, 
previous  to  determining  what  course  to  pursue  next;  accord- 
ingly, for  this  purpose,  they  put  into  North  Bergen  on  the  27th 
June ;  but  were  not  able  to  obtain  any  thing  but  water,  there 
being  an  unusual  scarcity  of  bread  in  every  part  of  Norway,  and 
at  the  time  not  more  in  Bergen  than  a  bare  sufficiency  for  its 
inhabitants  for  four  or  five  weeks.  After  replenishing  his  wa- 
ter, Rodgers  stretched  over  towards  the  Orkney  islands,  and 
...c... ,,  .,,.„„i,ao  vuc  x^uiLu  v.apc,  lor  tnc  purpose  oi  intercept- 
ing a  convoy  of  twenty-five  or  thirty  sail,  which  it  was  said 
would  leave  Archangel  about  the  middle  of  July,  under  the  pro-. 


66 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


I  >',!>> 


tection  of  two  brigs  or  two  sloops  of  war.  In  this  object,  hOv 
ever,  he  was  disappointed  by  a  line  of  battle  ship  and  frigate 
making  their  appearance  oflPthe  North  Cape  on  the  19th  of  Ju. 
ly,  just  as  he  was  in  momentary  expectation  of  meeting  the 
convoy  On  discovering  the  ships  of  war,  Rodgers  stood  to- 
wards  them  to  ascertain  their  character,  when  he  hauled  by  the 
wmd  on  the  opposite  tack  to  avoid  them;  but,  owing  to  faint, 
variable  wmds,  calms,  and  entire  day-light,  the  sun  in  that  lati! 
tude,  at  that  season,  appearing  at  midnight  several  degrees  i 
above  the  horizen,  they  were  enabled  to  continue  the  chase  up. 
wards  ot  eighty  hours;  during  Avhich  time,  owing  to  the  differ- 
cnt  changes  ot  the  wind,  they  were  brought  quite  as  near  as 
was  desirable. 

Disappointed  in  meeting  with  the  convoy,  Rodgers  now  steer-i 
ed  to  gam  the  direction  of  the  trade  passing  out  of  and  into  the 
Irish  channel.  In  this  position,  between  the  25th  of  July  and 
2cl  ot  August,  he  made  three  captures,  when  finding  that  the 
enemy  had  a  superior  force  in  that  vicbp'ty,  he  made  a  circuit 
round  Ireland,  and  then  steered  for  the  banks  of  Newfoundland, 
near  which  he  made  two  more  captures,  and  by  the  latter  one 
learned  that  a  74  and  a  frigate  were  on  the  eastern  part  of  the 
bank,  only  a  few  miles  to  the  westward;  he,  however,  did  not 
rail  in  with  them. 

On  the  23d  of  September,  to  the  southward  of  Nantucket 
shoals,  Rodgers  fell  in  with  and  captured  in  a  very  singular 
manner,  the  British  schooner  Highflyer,  tender  to  admiral 
Warren.  On  approaching  the  schooner  she  hoisted  a  private 
signal,  which  was  answered  by  the  President,  by  a  signal  which 
tortunately  proved  to  be  the  British  one  for  that  day,  on  seein.' 
which  the  Highflyer  immediately  bore  up,  and  was  boarded  by 
one  of  the  officers  of  the  President  in  a  British  uniform.  By  this 
stratagem  commodore  Rodgers  gained  possession  of  the  British 
private  signals,  and  admiral  Warren's  instructions  by  which 
was  discovered  the  number  of  British  squadrons  on  the  Ameri- 
can  coast,  with  their  force  and  relative  positions.— He  was  thus 
enabled  to  avoid  them,  and  on  the  26th  of  September  arrived 
safely  at  Newport,  Rhode-Island. 

During  the  cruise,  the  President  captured  twelve  British 
vessels,  three  of  which  were  ransomed  and  despatched  to  Eng- 
land as  cartels,  with  2 1 6  prisoners  on  parole.  The  British  gov- 
ernment, however,  refused  to  sanction  the  terms  of  exchange 
entered  into  and  signed  by  their  officers,  assigning  as  the  rea- 

cd  understanding  between  the  two  countries."  The  PresidenU 
on  her  arrival,  had  fifty-five  prisoners  on  board. 


IIIStORY  OF  THE-WAR. 


&r 


Tlie  Congress,  after  parting  with  the  President,  continued 
her  cruise  unti)  ♦he   12th  of  December,  when  she  arrived  at 
Portsmouth,  N.  H.  She  captured  two  British  brigs  often  guns 
I  each,  one   of  which  was  destroyed,  and  the  other  after  being 
dismantled,  was  givep  up  to  the  prisoners,  who  were  discharg- 
ed on  parole,  and  furnished  with  provisions,  &c.   sufficient  to 
i carry  them  to  the  West  Indies.  She  likewise  captured  a  Brit- 
|ish  ship  laden  with  wine  and  potatoes,  which  was  destroyed  af- 
[tcr  the  greater  part  of  her  cargo  was  taken  out. 
I     After  parting  with  the  President,  the  Congress  ran  to  the 
southward;  and,  crossing  the  equator,  put  into  Seara,  on  tha 
IBrazil  coast.     After  watering,  she  beat  against  a  strong  wind 
land  current,  up  to  Fernando  de  Noronha,  where  she  again  wa- 
Itcred;  and  dien  proceeded  to  the  eastward,  in  hopes  to  fall  in 
Iwith  some  Indiamen.     She  cruised  as  far  as  18°.  W.  from  6° 
IS.  to  6°  N.  under  easy  sail,  made  the  island  of  St.  Pauls ;  but 
intil  her  return  to  Fernando  de  Noronha,  which  was  nearly 
fhree  months,  never  saw  a  vessel.  She  then  returned  to  Seara, 
[where  she  took  in  a  quantity  of  cassada,  jerked  beef,  &c.  and 
Iran  under  two  reefed  topsails  to  latitude  44°  N.,  passing  near 
iHalifax,  where  she  captured  a  brig,  who  informed  them  of  Bos- 
Iton  being  blockaded  by  a  superior  force.  She  accordingly  made 
lior  Portsmouth,  where  she  arrived,  with  her  crew,  410  men,  in 
Iperfect  health,  having  lost  but  four  on  the  cruise.     When  the 
Imen  commenced  on  the  jerked  beef  and  cassada,  it  did  not 
lugree  with  them,  and  about  fifty  were  sick— but  they  soon  re- 
covered.    The  Congress  was  in  perfect  order  and  wanted  no 
I  repairs.  She  hado  n  board  about  thirty  prisoners  on  her  arrival. 
The  Essex  frigate  sailed  from  the  capes  of  the  Delaware  on 
the  25th  of  October,    1812;  on  a  cruise  to  the  Pacific  ocean, 
Letters,  however,  dated  July  2,  1813,  were  received   at  the 
navy  depratment  about  the  middle  of  December  following, 
llrom    her    commander,  captain   Porter,    at    which    time   he 
was  cruizmg  off  the  western  coast  of  South  America,  with 
a  Heet   ot  nme  armed  vessels  under  his  command,  eie-ht  of 
iwnich    were   British  letters  of  marque,   which  he  had  cap- 
lured  and  fitted    out.       The    first  of    these    vessels,  which 
A\  as  a  ship  ot  two  guns  and   twenty-one  men,  was  captured 
Ion  the   29th    of   April.      Two   others    were  then   in   si^ht, 
close  tOH-vHier,  about  seven  miles  distant  from  the  Essex;  the 
one  inciuung  teu  guns,  six  and  nine  pounders;  the  other  six 
K'lglitecn  pounders,  four  swivels,  and  six  long  blunderbusses, 
imoiriled  on  swivels..    The  wind  beino-  lic-ht  and  variabl*^-  c.r.A 
comiumg  greatly  in  the  bravery  and  enterprize  of  his  officers 
^m  iuts,,  and  apprehensive  of  their  escape, from  the  prevalence 


6B 


HISTORY   OF  TME  WAR. 


'f'ii 


of  fogs  in  that  climate,  Porter  directed  the  boats  of  the  "Ei&ct 
to  be  armed  and  manned,  and  divided  into  two  divisions.  Suit- 
able signals  were  established,  and  each  boat  had  her  particular 
station  pointed  out  for  the  attack,  and  every  other  previous  ar- 
rangement was  made  to  prevent  confusion. 

The  boats,  seven  in  number,  rowed  off  in  admirable  order. 
Guns  were  fired  from  the  enemy  to  t-rrify  them;  they  rowed 
up,  however,  undismayed,  under  the  muzzles  of  their  guns, 
and  took  their  stations  for  attacking  the  first  ship,  and  no  sooner 
was  the  American  fiag  displayed,  as  the  signal  for  boarding, 
and  the  intention  discovered  by  the  enemy,  than  their  colours 
were  struck  without  a  shot  being  fired.  They  then  left  a  crew 
on  board  the  prize,  and  took  their  stations  for  attacking  the 
other  vessel,  when  her  flag  was  also  struck,  on  the  first  call  to 
surrender.  Thus  were  two  fine  British  ships,  each  pierced 
for  twenty  guns,  worth  near  half  a  million  of  dollars,  mounting 
between  them  sixteen  guns,  and  manned  with  55  men,  well 
supplied  with  ammunition  and  small  arms,  surrendered  without 
the  slightest  resistance,  to  seven  small  open  boats,  with  fiftv 
men,  armed  only  with  muskets,  pistols,  boardhig  axes,  and  cut- 
lasses. 

On  the  26th  of  March,  previous  to  the  capture  of  any  of  the 
letters  of  Marque,  Porter  fell  in  with  the  Peruvian  corsair  ship 
Nercyda,  mounting  fifteen  guns,  v^hich  had,  a  few  days  be- 
fore captured  two  American  whale  ships,  the  crews  of  which, 
amounting  in  number  to  24  m«n,  were  then  detained  prison- 
ers  on  board.  As  they  could  assign  no  other  motive  for  the 
capture,  than  that  they  were  the  allies  of  Great  Britain,  and,  as 
such,  should  capture  all  American  vessels  they  could  fall  in 
with,  Porter,  to  prevent  in  future  such  vexatious  proceeding, 
threw  all  her  armament  into  the  sea,  liberated  the  Americans, 
and  dismissed  the  Nereyda.  He  then  proceeded  with  all  pos- 
sible dispatch  for  Lima,  to  intercept  one  of  the  detained  vessels, 
which  had  parted  company  with  the  Nereyda  only  three  lays 
before,  and  was  so  fortunate  as  to  arrive  there,  and  recapture 
her  on  the  5th  of  April,  at  the  moment  she  was  enterine-  the 
port.  ^ 

Captain  Porter  describes  his  crew  as  enjoying  remarkably 
good  health  and  spirits,  no  symptoms  of  scurvy  having  ap- 
peared, although  they  had  been  at  sea  for  eight  months,  with 
the  exception  of  23  days.  The  Essex  was  in  prime  order,  with 
abundant  supplies,  and  two  of  her  consorts  were  fitted  out  with 
20  guns  each,  and  well  manned.  He  mentioned  that  British 
letters  of  marque  wore  numerous  in  those  seas,  and  that  the 
American  whalers  had  derived  rnuc'i  benefit  from  his  cruize. 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


•€y 


The  bravery  and  enterprize  of  American  seamen  have  not 
l)een  less  conspicuous  on  board  our  privateers  than  in  our  na- 
tional vessels.  We  shall  here  present  an  account  of  a  few  of 
the  most  conspicuous  actions  that  have  taken  place. 

In  no  oiie  action  fought  during  the  pr^esent  war,  has  there 
been  more  courage  and  gallantry  displayed  than  in  the  attack 
made  by  the  privateer  RoUa  on  the  British  ship  Rio  Neuva. — 
The  Rolla  originally  carried  four  twelve  pound  carronades  in 
her  waist,  and  one  double  fortified  twelve  mounted  on  a  pivot. 
In  a  gale  of  wind  off  Madeira,  the  4  twelve  pounders  were 
obliged  to  be  thrown  overboard,  and  only  one  gun  remained; 
with  this,  however,  on  the  14th  of  December,  1812,  the  Rolla 
attacked  the  Rio  Neuva,  mounting  18  guns,  and  30  men,  and 
took  her  after  an  action  of  twenty-five  minutes.  During  the 
action,  the  men  or  board  the  Rolla,  animated  by  the.  courage- 
and  conduct  of  captain  Dooley  and  his  officers,  evinced  a  fixed 
determination  to  take  the  enemy  or  perish.  When  the  ship 
struck,  the  Rolla  had  ranged  up  within  pistol  shot,  and  was  pre* 
paring  to  board. 

The  privateer  schooner  Comet,  Captain  Thomas  Boyl^ 
sailed  from  Cape  Henry,  on  the  25th  of  November,  1812,  on  » 
cruize  to  the  coast  of  South  America.  On  the  1 2th  of  Decem- 
ber, at  one  in  the  afternoon,  she  discovered  four  sail  standing 
out  of  Pernambuco,  and  lay  by  to  give  them  an  opportunity  of 
getting  off  shore,  in  order  to  cut  them  off.  At  three,  they  be- 
ing then  about  six  leagues  from  the  land,  she  bore  up  and  made 
all  sail  in  chase  of  them;  and  at  eJix  having  discovered  one  of 
them  to  be  a  very  large  man  of  war  brig,  all  hands  were  called 
to  quarurs,  the  guns  loaded  with  round  and  grape  shot,  the 
deck  cleared,  and  all  got  ready  for  action.  At  seven,  being 
then  close  to  the  chase,  the  Comet  hoisted  her  colours,  and 
sheered  up  to  the  man  of  war,  which  had  hoisted  Portuguese 
colours.  The  Portuguese  then  sent  his  boat  on  board  the  Co- 
met, the  officer  of  which  informed  captain  Boyle,  that  the  brig 
was  a  Portuguese  national  vessel,  mounting  20  thirty-two 
pounders,  and  1 65  men,  and  that  the  three  others  were  English 
vessels  under  his  protection,  which  he  would  not  suffer  to  be 
molested;  he  also  mentioned  that  the  English  vessels  were 
arnied  and  very  strong.  Boyle  having  shown  him  his  com- 
mission, ajiswered,  that  the  brig  had  no  right  to  protect  English 
vessels  on  the  high  seas,  and  that^^e  was  determined  to  cap- 
ture those  vessels  if  he  could;  that  he  should  be  sorry  if  any 
tiuiig  uisagieeitblc  took  place,  but  if  it  did  he  would  not  be  the 
aggressor;  but  that  he  should  certainly  resist  any  attempt  to 
prevent  his  capturing  the  vessels.    The  officer  having  now  re- 


_iki^^i 


70 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


turned  on  board  the  brig,  Boyle  hailed  her,  and  distinctly  slated 
his  intention  of  immediately  attacking  the  convoy,  which  con- 
sisted of  a  ship  of  14  guns,  and  two  brigs  of  10  guns  each,  the 
whole  force,  including  the  Portuguese,  being  '>4    \  ,:.. 

Boyle  accordingly  made  all  sail  for  the  -^uj^Vtsh  vessels, 
which  were  close  together,  and  about  half  past  dgiu,  the  moon 
shmmg  clear,  he  hailed  the  ship  ordering  them  to  back  the  main 
Xopsails.  Little  or  no  answer  being  given,  Boyle,  having  quick 
way  at  the  time,  shot  a  little  ahead,  saying  that  he  should  be 
along  side  again  in  a  few  minutes,  when,  if  his  orders  were 
not  obeyed,  a  broadside  would  be  poured  into  him.  Af?  ^r  a 
few  minutes  he  tacked,  the  man  of  war  close  after  him  He  then 
ran  alongside  the  ship,  one  of  the  brigs  being  close  to  her,  and 
opened  his  broadside  upon  them  both,  all  the  vessels  at  this 
time  carrying  a  crowd  of  canvass.  From  his  superior  sailing, 
Eoyle  was  frequently  obliged  to  tack,  by  which  he  would  have 
received  considerable  advantage,  had  he  not  been  closely  fol- 
lowed by  the  man  of  war,  which  now  opened  a  heavy  fire  upon 
,  "him;  which  was  returned  by  the  Comet.  Having  now  the 
whole  force  to  contend  with,  Boyle  kept  as  close  as  possible  to 
^e  English  vessels,  which  fr.quently  separated  to  give  the 
;man  of  war  an  opportunity  of  giving  a  broadside.  The  Comet 
'  ontinued  the  action,  sometimes  pouring  her  broadsides  into 
the  merchantmen,  at  others  into  the  man  of  war,  until  eleven 
o'clock,  when  the  ship  surrendered,  being  all  cut  to  pieces, 
and  rendered  unmanageable  and  directly  after  one  of  the  brigs, 
which  was  also  vei y  much  disabled.  A  boat  was  now  despatch- 
ed to  take  possession  of  the  brig,  but  it  was  forced  to  return, 
being  prevented  from  passing  by  the  fire  of  the  man  of  war; 
one  of  Whose  broadsides  almost  succeeded  in  sinking  it.  The 
Comet  now  directed  the  whole  of  her  fire  at  the  Portu- 
guese, who  soon  sheered  off,  and  was  followed  for  a  short  dis- 
tance by  the  Comet,  which  then  returned,  arid  made  the  third 
merchantman  surrender,  she  also  bein5>  cut  to  pieces. 

Boyle  now  took  possession  of  the  Bowes,  the  brig  that  had 
lirst  surrendered.  He  also  spoke  the  ship,  and  ordered  the 
captain  to  follow  him,  who  answered,  that  Lis  ship  was  in  a 
sinking  condition,  having  many  shot  holes  betv/een  wind  and 
■\^ater,  and  not  a  rope  but  what  was  cut  away;  but  that  he 
would,  if  possible,  follow  his  orders  for  his  ov.n  safety.  As 
soon  as  the  Bowes  was  taken  possession  of,  she  received  a  pass- 
ing broadside  from  the  Portuguese.  The  neon  having  now 
set,  it  became  very  dark  and  squally,  and  the  Comet  was  sepa- 
rated from  all  the  vessels  except  the  man  of  war,  with  v/hom 
ibrhalf  an  hour  longer  she  continued  occasionairy  to  cxchan|:c 


K 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAB. 


71 


broadsitles.  At  day-light,  however;  the  vessels  being  found  to 
be  still  in  the.  neighbourhood,  the  Comet  wore  close  to  her 
prize.  The  man  of  war  then  stood  down  for  them;  on  per- 
ceiv  >^  which  Doyle  immediately  hove  about,  and  stood  for 
him,  when  he  also  tacked,  and  made  signals  for  the  convoy  to 
make  the  first  poit.  The  two  merchantmen  accordingly  put 
before  the  wind,  accompaaiied  by  thi  Portuguese,  by  whose  as- 
sistance and  their  own  exertions,  they  succeeded  with  the  ut- 
most difficulty  in  regaining  the  harbour  of  Pemambuco,  leaving 
the  Bowes    n  possession  of  the  Comet. 

On  the    1 1th  of  March,  1813,  the   General  Armstrong,  a 
privateer  schooner,  while  cruizing  off  the  mouth  of  Surinam 
river,  discovered  a  sail,  which  was  supposed  to  be  a  British 
letter  of  marque,  and  immediately  bore*  down  on  her,  with  the 
intention  of  giving  her  two  broadsides  and  then  boarding.     Af- 
ter giving  >er  one  broadside,  and  wearing  and  giving  another, 
to  their  surprise  they  found  they  were  aloni    side  of  a  frigate, 
pierced  for  14  guns  on  the  main  deck,  6  on  die  quarter-deck, 
and  4  on  the  forecastle.     The  wind  being  light,  the  privateer 
lay  for  about  ten  minutes  like  a  l<>j^  in  the  water.     During  that, 
thne  however,  they  shot  away  the  i.igate's  fore-top  sail  tie,  hi* 
mizen  gaff  hauiyards,  which  brought  his  colours  down,  and  his 
mizen  and  main  stay,  when,  thinkirg  she  had  struck,  they 
ceased  firing;  but  being  soon  undeceived,  they  recommenced 
the  action.     The  frigate  lay  for  a  few  minutes  apparently  un- 
manageable, but  soon  getting  way,  opened  such  a  heavy  fire 
us  would  soon  have  sunk  the  schooner,  had  s  e  not  succeded 
in  making  her  escape  by  the  assistance  of  her  sweeps.    In  this 
action,  which  continued  for  45  minutes,  the  privateer   had  6 
men  killed  and  16  v  uunded.     All  the  haulyards  of  her  head 
sails  were  shot  a',v-ay,  the  foremast  and  bowsprit  one  quarter 
cut  through,  all  the  fore  and  main  shrouds  but  one  cut  away, 
both  mainstays  and  running  rigging  cut  to  pieces,  a  great  num- 
ber of  shot  through  the  sails,  and  seveial  between  wind  and 
water,  which  caused  the  vessel  to  leak,  a    I  a  number  in  the 
hull.     While  they  were   getting  away  from   the  frigate,  she 
kept  up  a  well  dircctnl  fire  for  the  foremast  an.    gaff  of  the 
schooner,  but  without  effect. 

On  the  oth  of  August,  1813,  the  privateer  Decatur,  being- 
on  a  cruize,  discovered  a  ship  and  a  schooner,  the  first  of  which 
proved  to  be  the  Biltish  packet  Princess  Charlc^te,  the  other  ' 
the  British  vessel  of  war,  the  Dominica.  '  She  immediately 
...I,,.,,  ..-^.„a.ivi=  iiiviii,  uiivi  3u;;ii  iuuxiu  licracii  aorea:^!  Oi  tiie 
schooner.  Bo'i  vessels  continued  to  manoeuvre  for  two  or 
three  hours,  the  Dominica  endeavouring  to  escape,  aiil  the 


HISTORY  or  THB  WAR. 


,'*■ 


ill' 


n 


Decatur  to  board,  during  which  time  neveral  broadsides  were 
fired  by  the  former,  and  a  number  of  shot  from  the  large  gun 
of  the  latter.  The  Decatur  at  last  succeeded  in  boarding  the 
Dominica,  a  number  of  men  passing  into  her  stem  from  the 
bowsprit.  The  iirc  from  the  artillery  and  musquetry  was  now 
terrible,  being  well  supported  on  both  sides.  The  Dominica, 
however,  not  being  able  to  disengage  herself,  dropped  along 
side  of  the  Decatur,  and  in  this  position  was  boarded  by  her 
whole  crew.  Fire  arms  now  became  useless,  the  crews  fight- 
ing hand  to  hand  witli  cutlasses,  and  throwing  cold  shot;  when, 
the  captain  and  principal  officers  of  the  Dominica  being  kill- 
ed, and  her  deck  covered  with  dead  and  wounded,  the  British 
colours  were  Im uled  down  by  the  conquerors. 

During  the  combat,  which  lasted  an  hour,  the  Princess  Char- 
lotte nniained  a  silent  spectator  of  the  scene,  and  as  soon  as  it 
was  over,  she  tucked  about  and  stood  to  the  southward.  She 
had  saiJed  from  St.  Thomas,  bound  to  England,  under  convoy, 
to  a  certain  latitude,  of  the  Dominica. 

The  Decatur  was  armed  with  6  twelve  pound  carronades,  and 
1  eighteen  pounder  on  a  pivot,  with  103  men.  Her  loss  in  the 
action  was  three  killed  and  sixteen  wounded,  one  of  whom  af- 
terwards died.  The  Dominica  had  12  twelve  pound  carron- , 
ades,  two  long  sixes,  one  brass  four  pounder,  and  one  thirty- 
two  pound  carronade  on  a  pivot,  with  83  men.  She  had  13 
killed,  and  47  wounded,  5  of  whom  afterwards  died  of  their 
wounds.  Perhaps  this  engagement  has  been  the  most  bloody, 
and  the  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  on  the  part  of  the  enemy, 
lit  proportion  to  the  number  engaged,  perhaps  the  greatest, 
of  any  action  to  be  found  in  the  records  of  naval  warfare.  The 
surviving  officers  of  the  Dominica  attribute  the  loss  of  their 
vessel  to  the  superior  skill  of  the  Decatur's  crew  in  the  use 
of  musquetry,  and  the  masterly  manoeuvering  of  that  vessel, 
by  which  their  carriage  guns  were  rendered  nearly  useless.— 
The  captain  was  a  young  man  of  not  more  than  25  years  of  age; 
he  had  been  wounded  early  in  the  action  by  two  musket  balls 
In  the  left  arm,  but  he  fought  till  the  last  moment,  refusing  to 
surrender  his  vessel,  although  he  was  urged  by  the  few  sur- 
vivors of  his  crew  to  do  so;  declaring  his  determination  not  to 
survive  her  loss. 

The  Decatur  arrived  at  Charleston  on  the  20th  of  August 
with  her  prize.  The  surviving  officers  of  the  Dominica  spoke 
in  the  highest  terms  of  approbation  of  the  humanity  and  atten- 
tiion  disTjlaved  towards  them  hv  the  officers  and  crew  of  the 
Decatur. 

Tov  ards  the  beginning  of  January,  general  Tupper  having: 


irrrroRr  of  the  war. 


7$ 


adsldes  Vfcvt 


in  ajnanncr  paved  the  way  by  his  expcditoijs,  general  Win- 
chester proceeded  down  the  Miami  from  Fort  Defiance  to  the 
Rapids,  with  the  force  under  his  command.  On  his  arrival 
tiierc,  he  was  strongly  urgjed  by  the  inhabitants  of  Frenchtown, 
o.i  the  river  Raisin,  to  protect  them  from  the  violence  and  put- 
rage  of  the  horde  of  savages  by  whom  they  were  surrounded, 
uud  to  whose  brutaiiaes  they  wrre  daily  exposed.  Yielding  to 
the  call  of  humanity,  Wuichescer,  on  the  1 7th  of  January,  by 
the  unanimous  advice  of  his  of/iccrs,  but,  it  appears,  without 
consulting  general  Harrison,  detached  a  body  of  about  750  men, 
under  general  Lewis,  to  their  relief. 

Oa  the  following  day,  when  within  three  miles  of  French - 
town,  information  was  received  that  a  body  of  British  and  In- 
dians were  encamped  at  tluit  place,  and  that  they  had  received 
notice  of  their  approacli.  The  troops  were  accordingly  arrang- 
i  a  and  directed  to  prepare  for  action,  and  then  proceeded  with- 
in a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  enemy,  who  immediately  com- 
menced a  fire  with  a  howitzer,  from  which,  however,  no  inju- 
ry was  received.  The  line  of  battle  being  instantly  formed, 
tJie  whole  detachment  was  ordered  to  advance  ac  oss  the  river 
on  the  ice;  in  which  they  succeeded,  though  it  was  in  manv 
places  extremely  slippery.  The  left  wing  and  centre  werr. 
then  ordered  to  possess  themselves  of  the  houses  and  picket- 
mg  about  which  the  enemy  had  collected,  and  where  they  had 
placed  their  cannon.  This  order  was  executed  in  a  few  min- 
utes. Both  battalions  advanced  amidst  an  incessant  shower  of 
bullets,  and  succeeded  in  dislodging  the  enemy,  neither  the 
picketing  nor  the  fencing  over  which  they  had  to  pass  check- 
ing their  progress. 

The  right  wing  fell  in  with  the  enemy  at  a  considcrabfe  dis- 
tance to  the  right,  and  pursued  them  a  mile  to  the  woods, 
where  they  made  a  stand  with  their  howitzer  and  small  armsy 
covered  by  a  chain  of  enclosed  lots  and  a  group  of  houses,  with 
a  thick  brushy  M'ood  f^ll  of  fallen  timber  in  their  rear.  Lewis 
now  ordered  the  left  and  centre  to  possess  themselves  of  the 
wood  on  the  left,  and  to  move  up  towards  the  main  body  of  the 
enemy  as  fast  as  practicable,  in  order  to  divert  their  attention 
from  the  right.  At  the  moment  that  the  left  and  centre  com- 
menced their  fire,  the  right  advanced,  and  the  enemy  being 
soon  driven  from  the  fences  and  houses,  both  parties  entered 
the  wood  together.  The  fight  now  became  close,  and  ex- 
tremely hot  on  the  right  wing,  the  enemy  conceotrating  their 
forces  on  that  side,  in  order  to  force  the  line.  They  were. 
However,  still  obliged  to  retreat,  although  slowly,  the  Ameri- 
tiins  being  much  fatigued,  and   were  driven,  in  whole,  not 

G  2 


^4 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


less  than  *'vo  miles,  every  foot  of  the  way  under  a  confeinuul 
charge.     V 

The  battle  lasted  from  three  in  the  uftemoon  till  dark,  when 
the  detachm  nt  was  drawn  off  in  good  order,  and  encamped  tt 
the  place  which  the  enemy  had  first  occupied. 

The  force  of  the  enemy  in  this  affair  has  never  been  exactly 
ascertained;  but  from  the  best  information,  there  were  80  to  '00 
British  and  400  Indians.  The  number  of  their  killed  and 
wounded  is  likewise  unknown,  as  they  were  enabled  to  carry 
off  all  but  those  left  on  the  field  where  the  battle  commenced, 
'vhich  was  about  fifteen;,  but  from  the  blood,  the  trails  of  bodies 
dragged  off,  and  the  reports  of  the  people  who  lived  near  the 
place,  the  slaughter  must  have  been  great.  One  Indian  and 
two  of  the  Canadian  militia  were  taken  prisoners.  A  quantity 
of  public  stores  was  also  taken.  The  loss  of  the  Americans 
was  twelve  killed  and  fifty-five  wounded. 

On  the  20th,  general  Winchester  joined  the  detachment, 
with  a  reinforcement  of  250  men. 

Meanwhile  colonel  Proctor,  who  commanded  at  Detroh, 
hearing  of  the  approach  of  the  Americans,  ufHanccd  to  meet 
them  with  a  body  of  1.500  Indians  and  Britisn,  300  of  whom 
■were  regulars.  On  the  night  of  the  21st  he  discovered  the 
American  detachment,  and  early  next  morning  commenced  an 
attack  on  their  lines.  The  attack  commenced  at  S  in  the  morn- 
ing, by  a  heavy  fire  of  musquetry,  assisted  by  six  field  pieces. 
The  main  body  of  the  Americ^^ns  were  stationed  within  pick- 
ets on  the  left;  a  smaller  force,  unprotected,,  occupied  the  right, 
who  gallantly  sustahied  the  shock  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour, 
when  they  began  to  give  ground  for  the  purpose,  of  forming  iu 
a  situation  more  favourable  for  their  fire,  and  less  exposed  to 
that  of  the  enemy.  At  this  moment  Winchester  arrived  at  the 
place  of  conflict,  his  quarters  having  been  at  the  distance  of 
three  or  four  hundred  yards  f'*om  the  camp,  and  his  attention 
was  immediately  directed  to  rally  the  retreating  party.  This 
retreat,,  however,  being  discovered  by  the  enemy,  the  whole 
Indian  force,  together  with  a  portion  of  the  militia,  bore  down 
upon  them  v.'ith  redoubhvl  violence,  and  by  the  superiority  of 
cheir  numbers,  and  the  severity  of  their  fire,  prevented  their 
forming.  After  a  short  conflict,  in  which  they  suffered  severe* 
ly,  all  that  survived  were  made  prisoners. 

The  left,  who  were  stationed  within  the  pickets,  maintained 
their  ground  for  several  hours,  and  repulsed  the  British  regu- 
lars, in  three  successive  charges,  with  great  slaughter.  About 
1 1  o'clock,  however,  Winchester  was  brought  in  as  a  prisoner 
to  ^is  Dart  of  the  fields  and  T^erceivino"  that  rcsistatice  was-Ui 


QISTORT  OF  THE  WAR. 


7a 


itatire  ■vVas.Ul 


lin,  and  influenced  by  the  threat  of  their  being  abandoned  ta 
savage  fury  unless  they  instantly  surrendered,  he  acceded  to  a 
capitulation,  and  sent  a  flag  to  the  pickets  to  inform  them  they 
were  prisoners. 

General  Harrison  was  at  Lower  Sandusky,  when  he  received 
the  intelligence  of  Lewis  having  advanced  to  the  river  Raisin, 
and  fearing  that  he  might  ^jc  overpowered,  he  immediately  set 
out  for  the  Rapids,  which  he  found  that  Winchester  had  just 
left  with  the  reinforcement.  When  the  news  of  Winchester's 
disaster  reached  Harrison,  ne  was  about  three  miles  above  the 
Rapids,  with  360  men.  He  immediately  ordered  them  to  pre- 
pare to  march,  and  set  out  with  his  staff  .to  overtake  a  detach- 
ment of  300  men  that  had  set  oui  that  morning  for  the  river 
Raisin.  He  soon  overtook  them;  but  before  the  troops  that  he 
had  left  came  up,  it  was  ascertained  that  the  defeat  was  com- 
plete, and  it  was  the  unanimous  opinion  of  the  officers  that  the 
detachment  shotild  return.  A  hundred  and  seventy  of  the 
most  active  men,  however,  were  sent  forward,  with  directions 
to  proceed  as  far  as  possiWe  to  assist  those  who  were  fortunate 
enough  to  escape.  These,  however,  were  but  few;  the  snow 
was  so  deep  that  the  fugitives  were  entirely  exhausted  in  run- 
ning a  few  miles;  those  that  did  get  off  effected  it  by  turning 
down  to  the  lake,  and  secreting  themselves.  There  were  not 
more  than  40  or  50  that  got  a  mile  from  the  scene  of  action,, 
and  the  greater  part  even  of  these  were  overtaken.. 

Though  the  resistance  on  the  part  of  the  Americans  was 
put  an  end  to  by  the  capitulation  concluded  by  Winchester,  we 
regret  to  say,  that  the  most  tragical  events  of  this  disastrous 
day  are  still  to  be  recorded,  events  wliich  affix  an  indeljble 
stain  on  the  arms  of  the  British.  After  the  battle  the  British 
returned  to  Maiden  with  their  prisoners,  except  about  50  or  60 
wounded,  who.  were  not  able  to  march.  A  few  of  the  Indians 
remained  behind,  who,  being  joined  next  morning  by  about 
50  more  from  Maiden,  immediately  commenced  a  massacre  of 
the  wounded  Americans,  and  afterwards  set  fire  to  the  house« 
in  which  they  had  been  left,  and  consumed  their  remains.  The 
same  day  the  Indians  massacred  a  number  6f  their  prisoners 
who  had  not  been  wounded,  whose  remains  they  would  not  suf- 
fer to  be  interred,  but  left  them  above  ground,  where  they  were 
torn  to  pieces  and  devoured  by  hogs.  These  horrid  outrages 
are  but  too  well  substantiated,  not  only  by  the  inhabitants  of 
Frenchtown,  but  by  some  of  the  officers  who  had  the  good  for- 
tune to  escape,  by  being  purchased  from  the  savages.*  Great 
indignities  were  likewise  ir.flicted  on  a  surgeon  and  his  two 
comuaniDns,  '^v'ho,  a  few  davs  after  the  battle,  had  horn  riPs- 


r^ 


aiSTOllY  OF  Tlia  ^TAH. 


patcl^^d  by  Harrison  with  a  flag  of  truce,  to  attend  to  the 
wounded.  Om  of  them  was  kiilcd  by  the  Indians,  and  tlie 
others  robbed  ot  the  money  witii  which  they  had  been  entrust- 
ed by  tiie  general,  for  the  relief  of  the  most  pressing  wants  of 
the  wounded.  After  suffering  many  indignities,  not  only  from 
the  liKlians  but  troin  the  British,  under  the  flimsy  pretext  ol 
their  usmg  the  flag  only  as  a  cover*,  they  were  at  length  set 
at  hberty  at  Montreal,  whither  they  had' been  carried  and  im- 
prisoned. 

On  the  23d  of  January,  the  day  after  the  surrender  of  Win- 
cnester,  Harrison  retreated  to  Carrying  river,  about  midwav 
between  bmdusky  and  the  Miami.  In  the  following  month  he 
agani  ailvanced  to  the  Rapids,  where  he  constructed  a  fort, 
M?-  ''  "1,(1''"°''''  °f  ^^*^  governor  of  Ohio,  was  named  Fort 
iucigs.  1  Ins  tort  contains  about  nine  acres  of  ground,  nearly 
m  an  octagon^form  At  each  corner  is  a  stron^?  block-house, 
witxi  cannon  planted  so  as  to  rake  each  line,  and  command  every 
elevated  pomt  near  the  fort.  Between  the  block-houses  are 
urong  picketmgs  fifteen  feet  hi  height,  against  which  a  breast- 
woik  ot  clay  was  thrown  up  on  both  sides,  and  in  addition  to 
tins,  several  long  batteries  were  erected,  which  were  well  sup- 
pUed  with  cannon.  ^ 

The  term  of  service  of  a  large  portion  of  the  militia  in  Har- 
nson  s  army  havmg  expired,  1200  men  were  called  out  In-  the 
governor  ot  Kentucky,  and  despatched  under  general  Green 
,^lay  to  supply  tneir  place.  They  left  Cincinnati,  their  place 
ot  rendezvous,  m  the  beginnhig  of  April,  and  arrived  near 
^ort  Mcigs  on  tbe  4th  of  May,  which  they  learnt  wa.  besieg- 
^^  J^y  a  large  lorce  of  British  and  Indians,  under  general  Proc- 

Proctor  had  set  out  for  Fort  Meigs  with  1000  British  and 
UPO  Indians,  about  the  middle  of  April,  with  the  expectation 
ol  capturmg  it  belore  the  arrival  of  Harrison's  reinforcements 
ancl  supplies,  but,  owing  to  incessant  and  heavy  rains,  he  was 
not  able  to  open  his  batteries  before  the  first  of  May.  A  brisk 
hrmg  was  kept  up  on  both  sides  until  the  fifth,  when  a  small 
party  ot  general  Clay's  detachment  arrived,  with  information 


*  General  Hanisoriy  in  /its  official  disfiatch,  staies^  that  the 
surgeon  was  furnished  with  a  letter  addressed  to  any  British 
officer  he  flight  meety  describing  the  character  in  which  he  went, 
and  the  object  for  which  he  was  sent^  an  open  letter  to  general 
Winchester,  and  written  instructions  to  himself ,  all  of  which  he 
^vus  directed  to  show  to  the  first ofRcfr  h/>  w/^/  fm-.rfi 


HISTOHY    OF  THE  WAR. 


7% 


of  the  rest  being  close  at  hand.  Orders  were  immediately 
despatched  to  Clay,  to  proceed  down  the  river  in  his  boats,  to 
land  800  men  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  who  should  imme- 
diately attack  the  enemy's  batteries,  and  spike  their  cannon, 
and  the  remainder  on  the  right  bank,  who  would  be  aided  by  a 
sortire  of  the  garrison.  The  plan  was  successfully  executed, 
the  cannon  were  spiked,  but  unfortunately,  instead  of  returning 
across  the  river  to  the  fort,  they  pursued  the  flying  enemy  to 
the  woods  where  they  were  surrounded,  and  the  greatest  por- 
tion taken  prisoners.  A  great  part  of  the  baggage  was  also 
taken  in  the  boats  by  the  Indians. 

Notwithstanding  the  unfortunate  issue  of  tiiis  affair,  howe- 
ver. Fort  Meigs  was  relieved.  Proctor,  being  deserted  by  the 
Indians,  whom  their  chiefs  could  not  prevent  returning  to  their 
villages,  as  is  their  custom  after  any  battle  of  consequer.ee, 
witii  their  prisoners  and  plunder,  made  a  precipitate  retreat 
on  the  9th  of  May,  having  previously  secured  their  ordnance 
on  board  a  sloop. 

No  event  of  consequence  took  place  on  the  New-York  fron- 
tier during  the  winter.  The  opposing  armies  being  divided 
by  a  barrier  of  ice,  not  sufficiently  strong  to  allow  of  the  trans- 
portation of  artillery,  peace  was  only  disturbed  by  a  few  petty 
incursions,  which  each  party  justified  by  the  plea  of  retaliation. 

On  the  6th  of  February,  captain  Forsythe,  the  commanding 
officer  ac  Ogdensburg,  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  received  informa- 
tion that  several  men  who  had  deserted  from  the  oppoisite 
shore,  on  the  ice,  had  been  taken  on  the  American  side  by  a 
party  of  British,  aiid  carried  off  and  confined  in  the  jail  at 
Brochville. 

In  cwBisequeiM^e  of  this  intrusion,  as  it  was  deemed,  Forsythd 
the  same  evening  crossed  over  with  about  200  militia  and  rifle- 
men, for  the  purpose  of  retaking  the  prisoners,  and  capturing 
the  military  stores  at  Brockville.  On  approaching  the  Canada 
shore,  a  flanking  company  was  detached  above,  and  another 
below  the  town,  to  secure  all  the  passes,  to  prevent  informa- 
tion being  communicated  to  the  country.  Before  the  main 
force  reached  the  shore  they  were  fired  at  by  the  centinels, 
but,  instead  of  returning  it,  they  rushed  through  the  main  street 
to  the  jail,  which  was  instantly  carried,  the  prisoners  liberate- 
ed,  and  then  the  magazine  was  secured.  The  troops  in  the 
town  were  completely  surprised.  One  major,  three  captaias, 
three  lieutenants,  one  surgeon's  mate,  and  forty-two  privates, 
together  with  their  arms,  besides  130  rifles  and  musquets  cap- 
tured by  the  British  at  Detroit,  and  several  casks  of  powder 

auu  UACU  UilUIiUniUUn)  were  awCUrcu  ai;u  uiOuguiuu*       i'CnCuv 


78 


HISTORY    OF  THE  WAR 


»  *  m 


order  was  observed  by  the  officers  and  men,  scrupulous  rtsncct 
paid  to  private  property,  and  no  injury  was  done  to  any  indivl 
dual.  Although  a  severe  fire  was  kept  up  from  the  houses  as 
tne  Americans  advanced  to  the  jail,  there  were  none  killed  and 
but  one  wounded. 

n  V^l  ^oJJ*^^ins:  evening  a  party  of  46  Indians,  headed  by  a 
British  oftce",  crossed  over  from  Prescott,  a  villaj-e  in  Canada, 
a  mile  and  a  half  above  Ogdknsburg,  for  the  purpose  of  captur- 
ing a  picket  guard  of  nine  men,  belonging  to  Forsythc's  com- 
^f*"^';  ,  1.^^  succeeded  in  taking  the  centinel  on  post,  and  then 
attacked  the  guard,  but  were  repulsed  by  their  steady  bravery, 
aided  by  their  advantageous  position.  The  succeeding  evening 
J  5  or  20  American  volunteers  again  crossed,  and  took  a  lieuten- 
ant  and  two  men,  together  with  15  or  20  stand  of  arms. 

On  the  morning  of  the  22d  of  February,  the  British  crossed 
over  m  considerable  force,  and  succeeded  in  Capturing  Oe- 
densburg.  Forsyihe,  with  a  force  of  less  than  half  that  of  the 
Jaritish,  effected  his  retreat  to  Black  Lake  in  a  masterly  man- 
•^er.  Considerable  alarm  for  the  safety  of  Sackett's  Harbour 
was  excited  by  this  event,  ^nd  immediate  measures  were  taken 
tor  reirforcing  it.  No  attempts  were  made,  however,  at  fur- 
ther conquest ;  the  British  shortly  after  retired  across  the  St 
Lawrence. 

The  ice  having  disappeared  on  Lake  Ontario  about  the  mid- 
flle  ot  April,  the  look-out  boat  Growler  sailed  from  Sackett'8 
Harbour  on  the  19th  to  reconnoitre  the  lake,  and  immediate 
preparations  were  made  for  an  embarkation  of  troops  for  the 
invasion  of  Canada.  The  troops,  to  the  number  of  1700,  im- 
der  the  command  of  general  Dearborn,  were  embarked  by  the 
~od,  but  the  weather  proving  stormy,  the  fleet  did  not  sail  till 
the  25th. 

On  the  morning  of  the  27th  they  arrived  off  York,  the  capi- 
tal ot  Upper  Canada,  and  left  the  fleet  having  taken  a  position 
to  the  south  and  westwa.d  of  the  principal  fort,  and  as  near 
tne  shore  as  possible;  the  debarkation  of  the  troops  commenced 
about  8,  and  was  completed  al?out  10  in  the  forenoon.  The 
place  fixed  on  for  landing  was  a  clear  field,  the  scite  of  the  old 
t  rench  fort  Tarento,  but  the  wind  blowing  heavy  from  the  east- 
ward, the  boats  fell  to  leeward,  by  which  they  were  exposed  to 
a  galling  fire  from  the  enemy,  who  had  taken  a  position  in  a 
thick  wood,  near  where  the  troops  were  obliged  to  land.  This 
circumstance  likewise  prevented  the  fleet  from  covering  the 
landing.  The  cool  intrepidity  of  the  officers  and  men,  however, 
«>vercame  every  obstacle. 

-  he  nncmcn  under  Foisythe  first  landed,  under  a  heavy  fire 


count  IS : 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAH. 


79 


from  the  enemy,  who  had  collected  all  their  force  at  this  point, 
consisting  of  700  regulars  and  militia,  ?nd  100  Indians,  com- 
manded by  general  Sheaffe  in  person.  The  contest  was  sharp 
and  severe  for  about  half  an  hour,  when  about  700  or  800  of  the 
Americans  havirg^  landed,  commanded  by  general  Pike,  and 
the  remainder  of  the  troops  pushing  for  the  shore,  the  enemy 
retreated  to  their  works,  leaving  a  number  of  killed  and  wound- 
ed on  the  field.  '^  s  soon  as  the  troops  were  landed,  the  schoo- 
ners were  directed  to  take  a  position  near  the  forts,  in  order 
that  the  attack  upon  them  by  the  army  and  navy  might  be  si- 
multaneous. \ 

Pike,  having  formed  the  troops  on  the  ground  originally  m- 
tendcJ  ^or  their  landing,  advanced  to  the  batteries,  which  now 
opened  their  fire;  which  was  returned  from  the  schooners,  that 
had  beat  up  to  a  position  within  600  yards  of  the  principal  fort. 
The  troops  were  led  in  the  most  gallant  manner  by  general 
I^ike,  who  carrie-I  two  redoubts,  and  was  approaching  the  prin- 
cipal  work,  when  the  enemy,  having  previously  laid  a  train, 
blew  up  his  magazine,  bv  which  a  great  number  of  the  troops 
were  killed  and  wounded,  and,  among  the  former,  the  ever  to  be 
lamented  general  Pike.— When  the  fall  of  Pike  was  made 
known  to  general  Dearborn,  he  landed  and  took  the  command 
of  the  troops. 

As  soon  as  the  magazine  was  blown  up,  the  British  set  fire  to 
!  their  naval  stores  and  a  ship  on  ch  3  stocks ;  and  then  the  regu- 
lars with  Sheaffe  at  their  head,  made  a  precipitate  retreat  from 
the  town.  By  two  in  the  afternoon  the  American  flag  was 
substituted  for  the  British,  and  by  four  the  troops  were  in  pea- 
ceable possession  of  York,  a  capitulation  having  been  agreed 
on  with  the  militia  commanding  officer,  by  which  the  town, 
stores  and  nearly  300  militia  were  surrendered. 

The  total  loss  in  killed  on  this  occasion  was,  in  battle  14  and 
by  explosion  38 ;  wounded  in  battle  32,  by  explosion  232. 

The  loss  acknowledged  by  the  British  in  theii'  official  ac- 
count IS :  killed  62,  wounded  34,  wout  ded  and  prisoners  43, 
prisoaere  10,  and  missing  7. 

This  loss  of  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  however,  must 
only  include  the  regulars,  as  300  militia  were  sv^^i.  Nicred  m 
the  town. 

The  day  after  the  capture  of  York  was  em{?loyed  in  burying 
I  the  dead.  The  public  buildings,  barracks.  Sec.  were  then  des- 
troyed, together  with  the  military  sieres  that  could  not  be 
brought  away,  ahd  by  the  first  of  May  the  town  was  entirely 
cvucuatecl,  the  militia  prisoners  parolled,  and  the  troops  enj- 
-ai-Kca ;  but,  owing  to  contrary  winds,  the  fleet  did  not  sail  tiii 


80 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


the  8th.  On  the  aftemoon  of  the  same  day  they  arrived  at  Four 
Mile  Creek,  below  Fort  Niagara,  where  the  troops  and  public 
property  were  landed,  and  on  the  10th  Chauncey  again  sailed 
for  Sackett's  Harbour  for  reinforcements.  The  day  previous 
to  his  departure,  two  schooners,  with  100  picked  men,  sailed 
for  the  head  of  the  lake  to  seize  a  quantity  of  public  stores.— 
The  stores  were  found  to  be  guarded  by  about  80  regulars, 
who  were  repulsed,  the  stores  brought  away,  the  public  build- 
ings  burnt,  and  the  expedition  returned  to  Fort  Niagara  with- 
out loss. 

Chauncey  arrived  at  Sackett's  Harbour  on  the  13th  of  May, 
and  having  received  350  troops  on  board,  again  sailed  on  the 
22d,  and  arrived  near  Fort  Niagara  on  the  25th,  where  the 
troops  were  landed.  A  council  v/as  inmiediuiely  held  by  gen- 
eral Dearborn,  for  the  purpose  of  making  arrangements  for  im- 
mediately passing  to  the  opposite  shore.  Next  day  Chauncey 
reconnoitered  the  position  for  landh>j^  the  troops,  and  at  nighi 
sounded  the  shore,  and  placed  buo)  s  to  point  out  the  stations 
for  the  small  vessels.  He  then  took  on  s»;  ardof  the  Madison, 
Oneida,  and  Lady  of  the  Lake  all  the  heavy  artillery,  and  as  I 
many  troops  as  could  be  stowed. 

On  the  27th,  at  three  in  the  morrung,  the  signal  was  made 
for  the  fleet  to  weigh,  and  before  four  the  remainder  of  the 
troops  were  embarked  on  board  of  boats,  which  were  directed 
to  follow  the  fleet.  The  schooners  were  judiciously  placed  in 
positions  to  silence  the  enemy's  batteries,  and  cover  the  land- 
ing of  the  troops,  within  musket  shot  of  the  shore.  In  ten  mi- 
nutes after  they  opened  on  the  batteries,  they  were  complete- 
ly silenced  and  abandoned. 

The  troops  ther.  advanced  in  three  brigades,  and  landed  near 
a  fort  which  had  been  silenced,  at  Two  Mile  Creek.  Immedi- 
ately on  their  landing,  the  enemy,  who  had  been  concealed  in  a 
ravine,  advanced  in  great  force  to  the  edge  of  the  bank,  in  order 
to  charge  them;  but  the  schooners  opened  so  well-directed  and 
tremendous  a  lire  of  grape  and  cannister,  that  they  were  soon 
obliged  to  retreat.  The  troops  fio  ned  as  soon  as  they  landed, 
and  immediately  ascended  the  bank,  and  charged  and  routed 
the  enemy  in  every  direction,  the  schooners  still  keeping  up  a 
constant  and  well-directed  fire.  The  British  now  re-entcicd 
Fort  George,  and  set  fire  to  their  magazines,  after  which  they 
moved  off  rapidly  towards  Qucenstown,  and  were  pursued 
by  the  light  troops  for  several  miles.  The  main-body,  how- 
ever, having  been  under  arms  from  one  in  the  morrmg,  were 
too  much  exhausted  for  further  pursuit.  They  returned  to 
Fort,  George,  of  which  they  had  quiet  possession  by  iwtlvc 
o'clock. 


lhsT((RY   OF  THE  WAR. 


81 


On  this  occasion  we  find  the  first  mention  made  of  captain 
Peury,  the  hero  of  lake  Erie.  He  volunteered  his  services  to 
commodore  Chauncey,and  rendered  great  assistance  in  arrang- 
ing and  superintending  the  debarkation  of  the  troops,  He  was 
present  at  every  point  where  he  could  be  useful,  under  showers 
of  musketry,  but  fortunately  escaped  unhurt.  The  next  day  he 
was  despatched  to  Black  Rock,  with  fifty-five  seamen,  to  pre- 
pare and  take  the  command  of  the  squadron  fitting  out  there. 

The  loss  of  the  Americans  in  capturing  Fort  George,  was 
thirty-nine  killed  and  1 1 1  wounded.  The  British  lost  108  kill- 
ed, and  278  prisoners,  of  whom  163  were  wounded.  The 
jiumberof  militia  parolledby  general  Dearborn  was  507. 

The  day  after  the  capture  of  the  fort,  general  Lewis  marched 
■svith  Chandler's  and  Winder's  brigades,  and  the  light  artillery, 
dragoons,  and  riflemen,  in  pursuit  of  the  British,  by  the  way  of 
Queenstown.  Information  had  been  received  that  they  had 
made  a  stand  on  the  mountain,  at  a  place  called  the  Beaver 
Dam,  where  they  had  a  depot  of  provisions  and  stores,  and  that 
they  had  been  joined  by  300  regulars  from  Kingston,  and  were 
calling  in  the  militia.  Dearborn,  therefore  was  in  hopes,  that, 
confiding  in  the  strength  of  his  position,  the  enemy  would  await 
an  action,  by  which  an  opportunity  would  be  afforded  to  cut  off' 
his  I'etreat.  In  this  expectation,  however,  he  was  disappoint- 
ed. The  troops  at  Fort  Erie  blew  up  their  magazine,  and 
joined  the  main  body  at  Beaver  Dam,  who  then  broke  up  and 
retreated  along  the  mountains  towards  the  head  of  lake  On- 
tario. The  same  evening  Fort  Erie  was  taken  possession  of 
by  a  party  from  the  opposite  shore,  and  Lewis,  finding  that  the 
enemy  had  made  their  escape,  returned  to  Fort  George. 

Dearborn,  still  in  hopes  of  being  able  to  cut  off  the  retreat 
of  the  enemy,  on  the  Istof  June  detached  general  Winder  with 
his  brigade,  and  one  regiment  from  Boyd's  brigade  along  the 
lake  shore.  On  the  3d  general  Chandler  followed  with  the  re- 
mainder of  Boyd's  brigade.  The  British  general,  however, 
anticipated  the  blow,  by  attacking  the  American  army  before 
day  on  the  morning  of  the  6th.  Unfortunately,  although  the 
American  loss  was  but  small,  and  the  enemy,  whose  force  was 
very  inferior,  driven  from  the  field,  ytt  both  the  generals  Chan- 
dler and  Winder  were  taken  prisoners.  In  this  attack  the 
Americans  lost  two  generals  and  several  other  officers,  but  a 
greater  number  of  prisoners  were  lost  by  the  enemy. 

Dearborn  received  the  intelligence  of  this  affair  late  in  the 
same  evening,  and  immediately  despatched  general  Lewis  to 
take  the  command  of  the  troons.  He  arrived  and  took  the 
cammand  in  yae  afternoon  of  the  rtli.     The  British  likewise 

H 


62 


lilSTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


i 


;f?i 


■  ''..'^ii 


.,i  il 


despatched  a  messenger  to  sir  James  Yco,  who  was  off  Yori-i 
with  the  British  fleet,  with  orders  to  co-operate  in  the  attack 
on  the  Americans.  Lewis  fouhd  the  army  encamped  at  the 
Forty  Mile  Creek,  on  a  plain  of  about  a  mile  in  width,  ten  miles 
in  the  rear  of  the  ground  where  it  had  been  attacked,  its  right 
flank  resting  on  the  lake,  and  its  left  on  a  creek  which  skirts 
the  base  of  a  perpendicular  mountain  of  a  considerable  height. 

Lewis  had  scarcely  arrived  at  the  camp  before  the  hostile 
fleet  hove  in  sight.  It  did  not  approach  near  enough  before 
dark,  however,  to  enable  them  to  ascertain  with  certainty  whe- 
ther it  was  Yeo's  or  Chauncey's  squadron.  In  this  state  of  un- 
( ertainty,  the  ai-my  lay  on  their  arms  all  night,  and  at  break  of 
day  struck  their  tents,  when  the  hostile  fleet  was  discovered 
abvct  :;t  of  them,  about  a  mile  from  the  shore.  About  6,  it  being 
a  dead  cahn,  the  enemy  towed  in  shore  a  large  schooner,  which 
'>ii  iif  r  approach,  opened  her  fire  on  the  boats  which  the  army 
had  employed  for  the  transportation  of  their  baggage  and  camp 
cqui ;)age,  which  then  lay  on  the  beach.  As  soon  as  her  object 
was  pfciceived,  four  pieces  of  artillery  were  sent  down  to  the 
shore,  and  captain  Totten  of  the  engineers  was  ordered  to  con- 
struct a  furnace  for  heating  shot,  which  was  prepared  and  in 
operation  in  less  than  30  minutes,  and  the  schooner  was  soon 
compelled  to  retire. 

A  party  of  Indiana  now  made  their  appearance  on  the  brow 
of  the  mountain  (which  being  perfectly  brdd,  exhibited  them 
to  view,)  and  commenced  a  fire  on  the  camp.  They  were 
quickly  dislodged,  however  by  a  small  party  under  the  com- 
mand of  lieutenant  Eldridge.  The  Americans  lost  not  a  man 
by  the  attacks  of  the  fleet  and  Indians. 

Sir  James  L.  Yeo  now  sent  on  shore  an  oflicer  with  a  flag, 
demanding  a  surrender  of  the  army,  it  being  invested  with  sa- 
vages in  its  rear,  a  fleet  in  its  front,  and  a  powerful  army  on  its 
flank.  To  this  demand  general  Lewis  only  answered  that  **  the 
message  was  too  ridiculous  to  merit  a  reply  " 

Between  7  and  8  o'clock  the  four  waggons  that  were  with  the 
army  were  loaded  with  the  sick,  and  with  ammunition;  the 
canip  equipage  and  baggage  was  put  in  the  boats,  and  700  men 
were  detached  to  proceed  in  them  for  their  protection.  By 
some  irregularity,  however,  the  boats,  induced  probably  by  the 
stillness  of  the  morning,  put  off"  before  the  detachment  reached 
the  shore,  and  they  had  not  proceeded  above  three  miles,  when 
a  breeze  sprung  up,  which  enabled  an  armed  schooner  to  over- 
haul them.  Some  of  the  boats,  however,  kept  on,  and  escaped; 
the  others  were  run  to  the  shore  and  deserted,  twelve  of  which 


lost 


J  pi  isi'- ipsiiiy    iOSuvU    rr  ilii  L/ixUUiiUt:.        J\\.  i 


0  o'clock  th( 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


83 


was  soon 


ai>my  was  put  in  motion,  and  reached  fort  George  with  the  loss 
only  of  a  few  stragglers,  who  were  picked  up  by  the  militia 
and  Indians. 

Shortly  after  this  affair,  the  American  troops  concentrated  at 
Fort  George,  having  evacuated  Fort  Erie,  and  the  remainder 
of  the  Niagara  frontier. 

On  the  evening  of  the  23d  of  June,  Dearborn  despatched 
lieutenant-colonel  Boerstler,  with  570  men,  to  Beaver  Dam,  a 
few  miles  beyond  Queenstown,  to  attack  and  disperse  a  body 
of  the  enemy,  who  had  collected  there  for  the  purpose  of  pro- 
curing provisions,  and  harrassing  those  of  the  inhabitants  who 
were  considered  friendly  to  the  United  States.  The  force  of 
the  enemy  was  understood  to  be  about  80  regulars,  150  or  200* 
militia,  and  from  50  to  60  Indians. 

About  8  next  morning,  when  within  about  two  miles  of  Bea- 
ver D-^m,  Boerstler  was  attacked  from  an  ambuscade,  but  soon 
drove  the  enemy  some  distance  into  the  woods.  He  then  re- 
tired into  a  clear  field,  whence  he  immediately  despatched  an 
express  for  a  reinforcement,  stating  that  he  would  maintain  his 
position  till  it  arrived.  Three  hundred  men  were  instantly 
marched  to  his  relief.  They  were,  however,  too  late;  for,  on 
arriving  at  Queenstown  they  received  authentic  intelligence  of 
the  surrender  of  the  Avhole  detachment,  and  accordingly  re- 
tumed  to  camp. 

The  British  account  of  this  affair  states  that  the  detachment 
to  which  Boerstler  surrendered  was  but  small,  the  Indians  be- 
ing the  only  force  actualy  engaged;  but  that  his  position  was 
surrounded  by  woods,  which  he  was  led  to  believe  was  occu- 
pied by  a  superior  force. 

While  tlie  American  army  was  thus  employed  at  Fort  George, 
several  enterprises  were  undertaken  by  the  British.  On  the 
night  of  the  27th  of  May,  a  force  of  upwards  of  1000  men,  un- 
der sir  George  Provost  were  embarked  at  Kingston  on  board 
the  British  squadron,  and  in  open  boats,  and  immediately  sailed 
for  Sackett's  Harbour.  Next  morning  they  were  observed  by 
lieutenant  Chauncey,  who  commanded  the  small  naval  force 
remaining  there,  the  principal  part  of  the  American  squadron 
being  engaged  at  Fort  George,  he  immediately  sailed  into 
the  harbour  tiring  alarm  ?.'uns.  The  alarm  being  immediately 
communicated,  guns  were  likewise  fired  from  the  alarm  post§, 
in  order  to  bring  in  the  militia,  and  instant  measures  were  taken 
to  resist  the  attack.  *       '. 

No  attempt,  however,  was  made  to  land  on  the  28th,  the  at- 
tention of  the  enemy  being  drawn  off,  at  the  moment  when  all 
was  prepared  for  landing,  by  the  appearance  of  a  fleet  of  Ame,- 


84 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAH. 


Uf' 


ncan  barges  passing  from  Oswego  for  Sackett's  Harbour.  Tht 
barges  of  the  enemy  were  immediately  despatched  to  cut  them 
off,  and  succeeded  in  taking  12;  the  troops,  however,  had  pre- 
yiously  succeeded  in  landing  and  gaining  the  woods,  and  came 
into  Sackett's  Harbour  the  same  evening.     The  remaining 
seyenboats  outsailed  the  enemy's  barges,  and  got  safe  into  port. 
It  IS  presumed  that  the  landing  was  now  put  off  till  next  morn- 
ing, under  the  expectation  of  cutting  off  more  barges,  as  the 
fleet  hauled  their  wind  and  stood  into  South  Bay,  and  the  arm- 
.  cd  barges  were  despatched,  apparently  in  order  to  waylay  them. 
During  the  night  a  considerable  militia  force  came  in,  and 
were  stationed  on  the  water  side,  near  Horse  Island,  on  which 
was  placed  a  small  body  of  Albany  volunteers.     The  moment 
It  was  light,  the  enemy's  squadron  was  perceived  in  line  be- 
tween Stony  Point  and   Horse  Island,  and  shortly  after  troops 
-were  landed  on  the  latter,  from  thirty-three  large  boats,  under 
cover  lof  their  gun-boats. 

General  Brown,  who  commanded  the  post,  had  directed  that 
the  volunteers  should  retreat  across  the  neck  which  joins  Horse 
Island  to  the  main  land,  in  case  of  the  enemy  landing  there, 
which  they  accordingly  did,  and  joined  the  militia  wiktv  his 
command,  amounting  to  between  four  and  five  hundred  nifn. 
1  he  enemy  having  landed  and  passed  to  the  main  land,  vera 
marching  to  the  town,  when  they  received  the  fire  of  the  volun- 
IS^r?  and  ^^i*i-^  ^-;,;ch  sOTi:cwhat  checked  their  progress.— 
Unfortunately,  however,  the  militia,  totally  unacquainted  with 
military  discipline,  after  giving  the  first  fire,  rose  from  their 
coyer  and  fled  to  the  woods.  Tho  handful  of  volunteers,  thus 
losing  their  support,  were  likewise  forced  to  retreat,  but  being 
joined  by  a  few  regulars  from  the  town,  succeeded  in  rallying 
a  portion  of  the  militia,  and,  by  the  aid  of  the  fire  from  the  fort, 
soon  forced  the  enemy  to  withdraw  to  their  ships.  Unfortu- 
nately, the  ofiicer  who  was  entrusted  with  the  care  of  the  navy 
barracks  r.nd  store-houses,  who  had  been  instructed  to  fife  them 
in  case  of  the  enemy  proving  victorious,  mistaking  the  flight 
of  the  militia  for  a  complete  repulse,  set  them  on  fire,  and  they 
were  totally  consumed. 

The  American  loss  in  this  attack  was  twenty-one  killed  and 
eighty-four  wounded,  of  the  volunteers  and  regulars,  and  twen- 
ty-six missing.  Of  the  militia  there  were  twenty-fivt  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing.  Of  the  enemy,  twenty-nine  were  found 
dead  in  the  field,  and  twenty-two  wounded,  and  thirty-five 
were  made  prisoners;  in  addition,  many  were  killed  in  the  boats 
while  effecting  their  landing;  a  number  were  likewise  carried 
off  the  field  bv  the  enemv.  nrevimm  tn  thf-  ro»Yirr>fnnf>Tnf>n*  oi 


I 


irrSTuRT  OF  THE  WAR. 


tft 


his  retreat.  In  the  British  oiEcial  a*  rount,  their  loss  is  stated 
as  follows,  viz.:  Killed  forty-eight  uunded  one  hundred  and 
ninety-five,  wounded  and  iniss    f*->  sixteen. 

Commodore  Chauncey  retu.    ;ci  to  Sackett's  Harboir  on  the 
1st  of  June,     om  Fort  George,  where  he  was  compellc    to  re- 
main for  near  two  months,  unti»  tht  new  vessel,  the  General 
Pike,  was  ready  for  sea,  a    the  enemy's  fleet  was  »    *  consi- 
derably superior  in  force. 

Meanwhile  the  British  U  ded  it  over  the  lake.  On  the  16th 
of  June  their  fleet  appeared  off"  the  village  ^  Sodus,  where  a 
quanti  y  of  provisions  was  deposited.  The  Jitiaof  the  neigh- 
bourhood were  instantly  called  to  arms,  and  the  following  day 
arrived  in  considerable  force.  In  the  mean  while,  the  enemy 
having  disappeared,  the  provisions .  were  removed  from  the 
warehouses  on  the  water's  edge  to  a  small  distance  in  the  edge 
of  the  woods,  and  on  the  19th  the  militia  were  dischar  d,  ex- 
cepting a  small  number  as  -^  guard.  Before  evening  of  the 
same  day,  however,  the  fleet  again  appeared.  The  alarm  was 
instantly  given,  and  expresses  sent  after  the  discharged  mili- 
tia, who  immediately  returned,  but  nov  in  time  to  save  the 
place. — The  enemy  having  landed,  and  finding  that  the  great- 
er part  of  the  provisions  had  been  removed,  s't  fire  to  all  the 
valuable  buildings  in  the  place,  which  were  consumed  with 
their  contents. 

The  next  day  the  fleet  appeared  oL  Fort  Oswego,  and  made 
several  attempts  to  land  troops,  but  each  time  returned  on  sec  - 
ing  the  American  troops  ready  to  meet  them  on  the  shore. 

Another  attempt  was  made  on  Sackett's  Harbour  on  the 
night  of  the  2d  of  July,  by  a  considerable  force  in  oper  oats> 
headed  by  sir  James  Yeo.  This  scheme  being  discover,  d  by 
a  deserter,  commodore  Chauncey  as  soon  is  possible  got  un- 
der way  to  intercept  their  retreat.  The  British,  however,  dis- 
covert d  the  desertion  J  and  decamped  some  time  before  the 
commodore  could  reach  their  place  of  landing. 

On  the  morning  of  the  1 1th  of  July,  250  British  regulars 
crossed  the  Niagara  river,  and  Ian  'ed  a  little  below  Black 
Rock.  On  moving  towards  that  place,  they  were  discovered 
by  about  200  militia,  who  instantly  fled.  The  enemy  then  set 
fire  to  the  barracks,  block-houses,  &c.  spiked  several  pieces 
of  cannon,  and  took  a  quantity  of  flour  and  salt,  and  four  small 
field  pieces.  While  engaged  in  getting  off"  the  property,  they 
were  attacked  by  a  force  of  100  regulars,  ISO  militia  and  vol- 
unteers,  and  20  or  30  Indians,  who  had  come  down  from  Buf- 
faloe,  who  poured  in  upon  them  a  successful  fire,  by  which  a 
considerable  number  were  killed,  nine  of  whom  were  left  dead 

H.3  ' 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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86 


HISTORY    OF  THE  WAR. 


I-.* 


■■"i   ;     m 


on  the  shore,  besides  a  captain  mortally  wounded.  Fifteen 
prisoners  also  were  taken.  They  sccecded,  however,  in  car- 
rying  off  the  property.  The  loss  of  the  Americans  was  one 
killed  and  three  wounded,  two  of  whom  afterwards  died. 

Nor  were  the  British  inactive  upon  Lake  Erie  After  their 
retreat  from  Fort  Meigs  in  the  beginning  of  May,  several 
threatening  movements  were  made  from  the  lake  at  Fort  Meigs, 
Lower  Sandusky,  Cleveland,  and  Erie.  No  serious  attempt 
was  made,  however,  on  any  of  these  posts,  until  the  first  of 
August,  when  a  combined  force  of  the  enemy,  amounting  to  at 
least  500  regulars  and  seven  or  eight  hundred  Indians,  under 
the  immediate  command  of  general  Proctor,  made  its  appear- 
ance before  Lower  Sandusky.  As  soon  as  the  general  had 
made  such  a  disposition  of  his  troops  as  would  cut  off  the  re- 
treat of  the  garrison,  he  sent  colonel  Elliot,  accompanied  by 
major  Chambers,  with  a  ilag,  to  demand  the  surrender  of  the 
fort,  stating  that  he  was  anxious  to  spare  the  effusion  of  blood, 
which  he  should  probably  not  have  in  his  power  to  do,  should 
he  be  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  taking  the  place  by  storm. 

The  commander  of  the  fort  was  major  Croghan,  a  youth  of 
rl^l  years  of  age.  His  answer  was,  that  he  was  determined  to 
defend  the  place  to  the  last  e-*remity,  and  that  no  force,  how- 
ever large,  should  induce  him  to  surrender  it.  So  soon  as  the 
,  flag  returned,  a  brisk  fire  was  opened  upon  the  fort,  from  the 
gun-boats  in  the  river,  and  from  a  five  and  a  half  inch  howitzer 
on  shore,  which  was  kept  up  with  little  intermission  through- 
out the  night. 

At  an  early  hour  the  next  morning,  three  sixes,  which  had 
been  placed  during  the  night  within  250  yards  of  the  pickets, 
began  to  play,  but  with  little  effect.  About  4  in  the  afternoon, 
discovering  that  the  fire  from  all  the  guna  was  concentrated 
against  the  north-western  angle  of  the  fort,  Croghan  became 
confident  that  the  object  was  to  make  a  breach,  and  attempt  to 
storm  the  works  at  that  point.  He  therefore  ordered  out  as 
many  men  as  coald  be  employed  for  the  purpose  of  strength- 
ening that  part,  which  was  so  effectually  secured  by  means  of 
bags  of  flour,  sand,  &c.  that  the  picketing  sufteretl  little  or  no 
injury;  notwithstanding  which,  about  500  of  the  enemy,  having 
formed  in  close  column,  advanced  to  assault  the  works  at  the 
expected  point,  at  the  same  time  making  two  feints  on  other 
parts  of  the  fort.  The  column  which  advanced  against  the 
north-western  angle,  consisting  of  about  350  men,  was  so  com- 
pletely enveloped  in  smoke,  as  not  to  be  discovered  until  it 
had  approached  within  1 8  or  20  paces  of  the  lines;  but  the 
men,  being  ajl  at  their  posts  and  ready  to  receive  it,  com- 


.'\V 


HISTOllT  OF  THE  WAH. 


sr 


tied.  Fifteen 
tvever,  in  car- 
[cans  was  one 


menced  so  heavy  and  galling  a  fire  as  to  throw  the  column  a 
little  into  confusion;  being  quickly  rallied,  kowever,  it  advanc- 
ed to  the  outer  works,  and  jjegan  to  leap  into  the  ditch.  At 
that  moment  a  fire  of  grape  was  opened  from  a  six-pounder, 
which  had  been  previously  arranged  so  as  to  rake  in^hat  direc- 
tion, which,  together  with  the  musketry,  threw  jthem  into  such 
confusion,  that  they  were  compelled  to  retire  precipitately  to 
the  woods.  *-       r         / 

During  the  assault,  which  lasted  about  half  an  hour,  an  in- 
cessant fire  was  kept  up  by  the  enemy's  artillery,  which  con- 
sisted  of  five  sixes  and  a  howitzer,  but  without  effect. 

Before  the  attack  was  ended,  the  soldiers  in  the  garrison  sup- 
plied the  wounded  enemy  in  the  ditch  with  water,  by  throwing- 
over  full  canteens.  ** 

The  whole  number  of  men  in  the  garrison  was  not  more 
than  1601  Their  loss  during  the  siege  was  1  killed  and  seven 
wounded  slightly.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed,  wound- 
ed, and  prisoners,  must  have  exceeded  150;  one  lieutenant- 
colonel,  a  lieutenant,  and  50  rank  and  file  were  found  in  and 
about  the  ditch,  dead  or  wounded.  Those  of  the  remaindeP 
who  were  not  able  to  escape  were  taken  ofiP  during  the  ni^ht 
by  the  Indians.  .  &  5   •• 

About  3  in  the  moniing  the  enemy  sailed  dow.     he  river 
leaving  behind  them  a  boat  containing  clothing  and  considera- 
te military  stores.     Seventy  stand  of  arms,  and  several  brace 
ot  pistols,  were  afterwards  collected  near  the  works 

A  few  days  after  the  assault,  Proctor  despatched  a  surgeon 
with  a  flag  of  truce,  to  assist  in  the  care  of  the  woundedfand 
with  a  request  that  such  of  the  prisoners  as  were  in  a  con- 
(lition  to  be  removed  might  be  permitted  to  return  to  Maiden, 
on  his  parole  of  honour  that  they  should  not  serve  until  ex- 
changed. 

Harrison,  in  his  reply,  stated,  that  on  his  arrival  at  Fort  San- 
dusky on  the  morning  of  the  3d,  he  found  that  major  CroRhan, 
conformably  to  those  principles  which  are  held  sacred  in  the 
American  army,  had  caused  all  the  care  to  be  taken  of  the 
wounded  prisoners  that  his  situation  would  permit;  that  his 
Hospital  surgeon  was  particularly  charged  to  attend  to  them, 
and  he  vyas  warranted  in  the  belief  that  every  thing  which  sur- 
gica<  skill  could  give  was  afforded.  They  have  been  liberally 
turnished  too,  he  added,  with  every  article  necessary  in  theip 

fZT!"  u     ""^  ^^"^  ^"""P"^^  '^^^^^  ^^'-^Id  supply-     Having  re- 

cired  to  his  government  for  orders  respecting  the  disposition 

ot  the  prisoners,  he  could  not  with  propriety  comply  with  the 

'  cquest  for  an  immediate  exchange.    But  lit;  assumed  Jiim,  that 


81 


HISTORY   or  THE  WAR. 


as  far  as  it  depended  upon  him,  the  course  of  treatment  whicfi 
had  been  commenced  towards  them  while  in  his  possession 
would  be  continued. 

!t  is  impossible  here  to  avoid  contrasting  the  conduct  ot 
Proctor  and  Harrison,  in  two  exactly  parallel  cases,  the  care  of 
the  wounded,  and  treatment  of  the  surgeon  sent  for  their  re- 
lief after  the  battles  of  Frenchtown  and  Sandusky.  In  the  one 
case  the  surgeon  is  treated  with  politeness,  and  only  sent  back 
because  his  aid  is  unnecessary,  and  the  wounded  are  supplied 
with  water  by  the  garrison,  even  whilst  the  attack  is  carried 
on.  The  opposite  conduct  need  hot  be  repeated  here.  It  has 
made  too  deep  an  impression  to  be  so  soon  effrced. 

On  the  26th  of  December,  1812,  an  order  in  council  was  is- 
sued by  the  British  government,  declaring  the  Chesapeake  and 
Delaware  bav  s  in  a  state  of  blockade,  and  on  the  20th  of  March, 
all  the  ports  south  of  Rhode  Island  were  included.  During  the 
winter,  intelligence  had  been  repeatedly  received  by  American 
prisoners  from  Bermuda,  of  the  arrival  of  a  British  squadron  at 
that  place,  well  stored  with  bombs  and  Congreve  rockets,  and 
with  a  considerable  body  of  troops  on  board,"*  for  the  purpose  of 
destroying  some  of  our  southern  cities.     The  alarm,  then,  that 
was  excited  at  Norfolk  may  be  easily  conceived,  when  intelli 
gence  was  received  of  the  approach  of  this  squadron,  which  on 
the  4th  of  February  was  perceived  in  the  Chesapeake,  standing 
towards  Hampton  Roads,  to  the  number  of  two  74's,  three  fri- 
gates, a  brig,  and  a  schooner.     The  frigate  Constellation  had 
come  down  the  bay,  and  anchored  in  Hampton  Roads  the  day 
before,  and  on  the  arrival  of  the  first  news  of  the  near  approach 
of  the  hostile  squadron,  it  being  then  ebb-tide,  was  fast  aground 
at  Willoughby  spit.     Fortunately,  however,  the  flood  made, 
and  the  ship  was  afloat  before  the  enemy  hove  in  sight.     S4ie 
was  immediately  brought  up  Elizabeth  river  to  Norfolk,  and 
anchored  between  the  two  forts,. 

Every  exertion  was  now  made  for  the  defence  of  the  place, 
by  calling  out  the  militia,  &c.;  the  recruits  at  the  barracks  were 
brought  down  to  the  fort,  and  the  gun-boats  stationed  in  the 
most  favourable  position  to  resist  the  expected  attack.  No  at- 
tempt, however  was  made  upon  the  town.  The  squadron  con- 
fined its  operations  to  the  capturing  and  destroying  the  bay 
craft,  and  forming  an  ejRFectual  blockade  of  the  waters  of  the 
Chesapeake. 

About  the  same  time  a  British  squadron  entered  the  Dela- 
ware bay,  which  consisted  of  the  Poictiers,  74,  the  frigate  Bel- 
videra,  and  several  small  vessels,  and  for  some  weeks  were  em- 
ployed in  fixing  buoys,  intercepting  and  capturing  the  outward 


HISTORY    OF  THE  WAT*, 


89 


and  inward  bound  vessels,  and  burning  the  bay  craft  On  the 
16th  of  March,  sir  J.  P.  Bererford,  ^the  commSd;r  of  the 
squadron,  transn.itted  a  letter  to  Lewistown,  a  smal    fishing 

trate,  requesting  him  to  send  twenty  live  bullocks,  with  a  uro- 
portionate  quantity  of  vegetables  aJd  hay,  on  boa^rthe  Po  c 

paid  tor  at  the  Philadelphia  prices,     ''^he  request  was  acmm' 
p,ned  w„h  a  threat,  that  in'case  oU  r^lnsXC  Z^m'^Z 

.omniiantrw^^irh'  ^}'"^%  'ho«8h  Politely  refused,  as  "a 
I  ompi  ance  would  be  an  immediate  violation  of  the  laws  anrf  an 

"tir  h1^§rm°",m^°"';  ^^-^-^  Ber^tdl^^ere  " 
irenerous  Zl  .'  ^^^  "\^"  ^^^'  ^"  ^^^  °Pi"^«»  "hither  un- 
nn^l?  'u  wanting  in  that  magnanimity  which  one  nation 
ought  to  observe  to  another  with  which  it  is  at  war  IUs"n  mv 
power,"  continues  he,  "  to  destroy  your  town,  a^d  the  reou^st 
have  made  upon  it  as  the  price  of  its  security's  neither  dis 

^    essing  nor  unusual.     I  must,  therefore,  perskt  and  whateve; 

,  sufferings  may  fall  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Lewis,  must       a7 

|%rqtl:sSr"^^'  ''  "^^  '^-''^-^  -^^^  ^  -^-"  -  et 

j     Nothing  further  passed  on  the  subject,  till  the  6th  of  Anri? 

when  they  renewed  the  demand,  and  LdV  veral  32  pound  shot 

ntothe  town,  previous  to  sending  the  flag  on  shore    to  show 

that  they  were  serious  in  their  threats,     fn  BeresfoM's  letter 

S'^e^^ull't    {f  ^r'"»'  ^»  ^^"^ideration  of  his  superior 
10  .e.        1  must,  therefore,"  continues  he, «  consider  vour  refn 
sal  to  supp  y  the  squadron  as  most  cruel  in  your  partTthe  in 

"dS^o    ^"'^^  '^•'f  ^  ""'''?''  ^^^  -«-'"  and'  children  ;^ 
reduced  to  by  your  conduct,  and  earnestly  desire  they  may  be  in- 

^  turned   thTn^-       ^^  '^T  ^'""'^  "^"^^^^  ^  '^'^^^  ^^P^Y  ^as %". 
turned,  that  the  commander,  colonel  Dav5«,  was  a  e-allant  m«n 

^  and  nad  already  taken  care  o'f  the  ladies.     oHL  r^eturToS 
,l^\'f^''''''f^^^^^<^ornmenced{rom  four  launches  with  2!  • 

P^t  boa?"w?H'''-  '^'  '^T^'  ^^'^  '^  P«^"d^^«  ^"d  -  "^-rtar;  a 
pi  ot  boat,  with  six  pounders;  and  a  schooner  with  12  twelve 
pounders,  covered  by  the  frigate  Belvidera. 

1  he  town  being  seated  on  a  considerable  eminence,  suslained 

n^  shorr  T"^k  '^".  '°'^^^^  P^''^^  «^^r'  ^^^  the  bombs  fall- 
S's  «,?';!•  I .  ^?  ^'T  ^"  eighteen  pounder  on  shore,  which 
he  r'; r  l^^  ^>'  ^'^^^  ^^T"  ^>^  '^"  ^"^"^y>  '^^^^^^  one  of 
he  nl.n.  ^'"'^"^  gun-boats.  Above  600  shot  were  fired  at 
the  place,  a  great  part  ot  whkh  was  afterwards  dug  by  the  bovs 

-  y, 


p^ 


90 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


out  of  the  sand,  viz.  40  of  32lb.  96  of  18lb.  156  of  12's  and  9's 
with  a  large  quantity  of  6's  and  grape,  besides  shells  and  re' 
mains  of  rockets.  Not  a  man  was  killed  on  the  side  of  the 
Americans  during  this  attack. 

On  the  forenoon  of  the  foHowmg  day,  a  number  of  small 
boats  approached  the  shore,  apparently  with  the  intention  of 
landing;  but,  being  gallantly  met  by  the  militia  on  the  beach, 
they  were  recalled  by  a  signal  from  the  squadron. 

In  the  Chesapeake  the  pnncipal  part  of  tne  squadron  began 
to  move  up  the  bay  about  the  beginning  of  April.  On  the  3d 
they  anchored  oft'  the  mouth  of  the  Rappahannock,  for  the  pm- 
pose  of  attacking  the  Dolphin,  a  privateer  schooner  of  10  guns, 
and  three  letters  of  marque  bound  for  France,  which  had  taken 
shelter  m  the  river  on  the  approach  of  the  squadron 

Their  tenders  and  launches,  to  the  number  of  1 7,  being  mann- 
ed  and  sent  up  the  river,  a  furious  attack  was  made  on  the  ves- 
sels, which  unfortunatly  lay  becalmed.  Two  of  the  letters  of 
marque  were  speedily  taken,  they  making  but  a  slight  resis- 
Jance;  the  third  was  run  ashore,  and  most  of  her  crew  escaped 
The  Dolphin  bore  the  brunt  of  the  action.  The  whole  force  of 
the  enemy  was  soon  directed  to  her,  and  she  gallantly  sustained 
the  contest  for  two  hours,  when,  at  last,  they  succeeded  in 
boarding  her.  Even  then,  however,  she  did  not  strike.  The 
hght  continued  for  some  time  on  deck,  until,  overpowered  by 
numbers,  the  Americans  were  forced  to  submit,  the  enemy  hav- 
mg  previously  pulled  down  the  colours. 

A  few  days  previous  to  this  affair,  a  most  unfortunate  action 
took  place  here  between  the  American  privateer  Fox  and  the 
United  States  schooner  Adeline  and  two  gun-boats.  The 
schooner  and  gun-boats  were  proceeding  down  the  bay,  und>'" 
the  command  of  lieutenant  Sinclair,  and  at  midnight  mad 
harbour  under  Gwinn's  island,  near  the  mouth  of' the  Rappa- 
hannock.  After  having  anchored  in  a  line  across  the  channel, 
Sinclair  was  hailed  by  the  Fox,  and  each  taking  the  other  to  be 
an  enemy,  and  consequently  refusing  to  send  a  boat  on  board, 
Sinclair  fired  a  musket  ahead  of  the  privateer,  which  she  in- 
stantly returned  with  a  broadside. 

The  schooner  and  gun-boats  then  opened  their  fire,  and  in 
fifteen  minutes  silenced  the  privateer.  Being  hailed,  however, 
to  know  if  she  had  struck,  she  renewed  the  action  without  an- 
swering, and  in  fifteen  mmutes  more  was  again  silenced.  On 
being  a  second  time  hailed,  she  once  more  opened  her  fire, 
which  she  continued  for  half  and  hour  and  then  cut  her  cable  and 
escaped  up  the  bay.  On  board  the  Fox  the  captain  and  five  men 
were  badly  wounded,  she  had  one  shot  in  her  hull,  and  her  sails 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


91' 


r  IT  7  V""^^  ^r'-  ^^^  ^^""^^^^  «"  bo^^d  the  schooner, 
^vhich  bore  the  brunt  of  the  action,  was  but  small,  only  one  mai 
severely  wounded,  and  the  ringing  a  little  cut. 
o.K  f  J'^'^-Vl^'^^^'^T  continuing  to  stand  up  the  bay,  on  the 
nff  th/P"  K^7r"«^'^  Annapolis,  and  on  the  16th  appeared 
off  the  mouth  of  the  Patapsco,  twelve  or  fourteen  miles  from 
Baltimore.  Both  Annapolis  and  Baltimore  were  threatened 
with  an  attack,  but  nothing  was  attempted,  the  enemy  careful- 
ly^keepmg  their  vessels  at  a  safe  distance  from  the  guns  of  the 

But  though  the  fortified  towns  escaped  the  vengeance  which 
had  so  long  been  threatened,  it  was  not  the  case  with  thTun- 

KeTav  "''v^'''  f  r ^  ^'^^^  ''''  "^^''«  ^h^t  f^''  into  the  Lad 
of  the  bay.     Four  of  these  were  laid  in  ashes  by  admiral  Cock- 

burn  who  gallantly  led  the  barges  which  ascended    he  rivers 

for  this  purpose.     These  plundering  and  burning  expeditions 

itSelry.'^^  ""^  famous  in^he  neig.boLhoSd  o^fT 

Having  sufficiently  signalized  their  prowess  b>  the  burning 

town'anS  tZ"^  Havre-de-Grace*,  Georgetown,  ^.d  Frederkk? 

l!r  '  ^/^^  farm-houses,  mills,  &c  adjoining,  the  squadron 

onsTnd  n7"  '  •'  '^'^^  ?^?^'^y^"S  ^^^  oyiter-l^'ats,  wZ-shaT 

elv^s  buf  i\  I  ron'  craft  in  their  progress,  and  showing  them- 

the  bay  ^^"^^^^^^^  distance,  at  every  fortificatv?n  near 

.JJ'^  squadron  after  returning  down  the  bay,  resumed  their 
station  m  Hampton  Roads,  with  the  view  of  attacking  Norfolk 
i^arly  on  the  morning  of  the  22d  of  June,  they  landfd  a  arge 
teil'"^?\%T  l!^V^^«""ts  of  des'erteJs  about  2500  ^n 
ctnev  t'I  ^^^^'^^^^'^  river,  and  marched  them  up  towards 
t  aney  Island,  the  passage  to  which  from  the  main  land,  is 

St  eSllTVrr  ^'''y-J^'^y^o.isMl  ofmen,  were  then 
,     to  effect  a  landing  on  the  north  side  of  the  island    wJfh 

whom  the  force  on  the  main  land  was  directed  to  cotpe^^^^^^^^ 
he  whole  force  on  the  island  at  the  time  of  the  attack  wis  48? 

oity -three  of  whom  were  on  the  sick  list—With  this  handful 


*  The  burning  and  iilundering  of  Havre -de  ^  Grace  u  fierhaha 
ladTl  "^r'  °/^«^^^-«'^  e./^ioits.   Tke  houses  helng^X 

juring  the  church  mmt  have  been  very  considerable,  every  hane 
^la..  ^n  the  building  having  been  broken  by  etonlsZdtZ. 


!>2 


HISTORY    OF  THE  WAR. 


rV:*1? 


m 


of  men  was  the  landing  of  the  enemy  successfully  opposed,  and 
they  were  forced  to  retreat  to  their  ships,  with  the  loss  of  sev- 
era]  boats  by  the  fire  of  the  artillery. 

Foiled  in  their  meditated  attack  on  Norfolk  by  this  repulse 
at  the  mouth  of  the  harbour,  the  British  again  turned  their  at- 
tention to  the  easier  task  of  laying  waste  unprotected  villages, 
and  that  of  Hampton,  which  lay  nearly  opposite,  naturally  pre- 
9«nted  itself.    -Here  they  landed  a  body  of  2500  men,  with  but 
little  opposition,  there  being  only  a  small  detachment  of  mili- 
tia  encamped  near  the  town,  who  were  soon  forced  to  retreat 
under  a  heavy  fire  of  artillery,  musketry,  and  Congreve  rockets, 
The  British  now  took  possession  of  the  village;  and  here  a 
horrid  scene  of  barbarity  ensued,  which  was  characterised  by  i 
plunder,  devastation,  murder,  and  rape.     The  British  troops  1 
shortly  after  retreated  to  their  ships,  when  a  correspondence  I 
took  place  by  means  of  flags  between  general  Taylor,  the  com- 
mandant  at  Norfolk,  and  sir  Sidney  Beckwith,  quarter-master- 
general  of  the  British  forces,  on  the  subject  of  these  excesses. 
Sir  Sidney  attempted  to  justify  them  on  the  ground  of  inhu- 
manity  in  some  of  the   American  troops  on   Craney  island, 
whom  he  charged  with  having  waded  into  the  river,  and  shot 
at  their  unresisting  and  yielding  foe,  who  clung  to  the  wreck  of 
a  boat  which  had  been  sunk  by  the  fire  of  their  guns.     This  I 
imputation  was  promptly  repelled,  and  a  board  of  officers  was  I 
immediately  appointed  to  investigate  the  charge.     From  the  I 
evidence  adduced  it  appeared,  that  in  the  action  at  Craney  I 
island,  two  of  the  enemy's  boats  in  front  of  their  line  were  I 
sunk  by  the  fire  of  the  batteries;  the  soldiers  and  sailors  who  I 
were  in  those  beats  were  consequently  afloat,  and  in  danger  of  I 
drowning,  and  being  in  front  of  the  boats  that  were  uninjured,  I 
guns  were  necessarily  fired  in  the  direction  of  the  men  m  the  I 
water,  but  with  no  intention  whatever  to  do  them  further  harm;  I 
but,  on  the  contrary,   orders  were  given  to  prevent  this,  by  I 
ceasing  to  fire  grape,  and  only  to  fire  round  shot;  it  also  was  I 
substantiated,  that  one  of  the  enemy,  who  had  apparently  sur-  I 
rendered,  advanced  towards   the  shore,  about   one    hundred  I 
yards,  when  he  suddenly  turned  to  his  right  and  endeavoured 
to  make  Ms  escape  to  a  body  of  the  enemy  who   had  landed 
above  the  island,  and  who  were  then  in  view;  then,  and  not  till 
then,  was  he  fired  upon  to  bring  him  back,  which  had  the  de- 
sired eff'ect,  and  he  was  taken  unhurt  to  the  island.     It  further 
appeared,  that  the  American  troops  exerted  themselves  in  acts 
of  hospitality  and  kindness  to  the  unresisting  and  yielding  foe. 
But  even  if  this  charge  had  been  founded  on-  fact,  it  could 
not  have  justified  the  measures  adopted  by  the  British.    The 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR.  .       93 

dres's  de^Jjl;lH*Ti^^^''  ^''"  ^'''  "^""^*y  ascertained  and  re- 
dress  demanded,  before  any  retaliation  was  resorted  to;  espe- 
cial  y  a  retaliation  so  extravagant  in  its  measure,  applying  not 

rades,  but  to  the  unresistmg,  mnocent,  and  helpless. 
we?e";ri.  h/r'^p"-^^^^'**^  summer  hostile  demonstrations 
Waters  nffh^Vh'  ^"''f^  ''^"*^"*"  ^^  ^^"°"»  P«i"ts  on  the 
IT     °Vn^^•^^'*P^*^^'  particularly  at  Washington,  Anna- 

me  elvt^harasTT'  ^"  "^"^'^  '^  ^^^  ^^"^  ^^  the^enemy  Tas 
rnartoftherh;  ^'''''  "!''""^*y  eminently  successful. 
A  part  01  the  Chesapeake  squadron,  under  admiral  Cockburn, 
hkewise  appeared  oflF  Ocracock  bar,  North  Carolia,  whe^' 
their  barges  destroyed  two  privateers,  and  landed  a  numberTf 

TwalX-dtio^!  ""^''''-'^  ^'^  ^^"^'"^"^^  ^  -^-^ 

The  British  squadron  off  New  York  confined  themselves  lo 

keepmg  up  a  strict  blockade.     The  American  frigates  United 

W  New^T^^"^""'  ^^  '^-^^oopof  warnLet,  salleS 
irom  New  York  on  a  cruize  in  the  beginning  of  May.     Find- 

lit  nuTf^'^l'  'f  ^  T""^  '"P^"«^  *'°^*^«  ^^y  ««■  the  Hook, 
h^in^t^nr^  V^""*  "*."  ^''^  ^'^^'  Pa^^^d  through  Hell-gate,  with 
the  intention  of  puttuig  to  sea  through  the  sound.  This  inten- 
tion was  frustrated  by  the  superior  force  of  the  enemy  in  that 
quarter,  by  which  they  were  several  times  driven  back,  and  on 
the  first  of  June  they  were  chased  into  New  London  by  two 
^4  s  and  a  frigate,  which  immediately  anchored  off  that  place. 
and  m  a  few  days  were  joined  by  the  force  that  had  been  block- 
ading off  the  Hook.  As  the  movements  of  the  British  mdicat- 
ed  an  intention  of  attacking  New  London,  prompt  measures 
were  taken  for  its  defence.  Six  hundred  militia  were  called 
out,  and  to  msure  the  safety  of  his  squadron,  commodore  De- 
catur landed  a  number  of  his  guns,  which  were  mounted  In  a 
Uattery,  and  the  vessels,  thus  lightened,  proceeded  up  the  riv- 
Xf  UiVen?m7"  ^^^"''^  ^^^"^ '^"^ '^"^"^P^  ^^ the  larger  ves- 

New  London  is  situated  on  the  river  Thames,  about  7  miles 
uom  j^ong  Island  sound,  and  can  be  approached  by  ships  of 
any  draught  of  water.  The  channel,  however,  is  narrowf  and 
completely  commanded  by  the  surrounding  heights,  which 
wei^  so  strongly  fortified,  as  to  deter  the  squadron  ilom  any 
liostue  attempt.  They  contented  themselves,  therefore,  with 
keepmg  up  a  blockade,  and  making  a  few  predatory  excur- 
sions on  Long  Island  and  the  neighbouring  continent. 

An  act  was  passed  by  congress  in  the  winter  of  1812—13,  to 
ehcourage  the  destruction  of  the  enemy's  blockading  vessels, 

1 


91 


HISTORY   OF  THE  M  AR. 


II.      .   . 


by  a  bounty  of  half  the  value  of  the  vessel  destroyed,  if  effect- 
ed by  any  other  means  than  by  the  ai-med  or  commissioned 
vessels  of  the  United  States,  in  conseciucnce  of  which  several 
abortive  attemps  were  made.  The  two  most  remarkable  were 
those  against  the  Ramilies,  off  New  London,  and  against  the 
Plantagenet,  off  Cape  Henry,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Chesapeake 
bay. 

The  attempt  on  the  Ramilies  was  made  on  the  25th  of  June. 
The  schooner  Eagle  was  loaded  at  New- York  with  a  number 
of  flour  barrels  filled  with  gunpowder,  in  one  of  which  was 
fixed  a  gun-lock,  with  a  string  to  the  trigger  made  fast  to  the 
bottom  of  the  vessel.  Over  these  were  placed  a  few  barrels 
of  damaged  flour.  Thus  prepared,  she  threw  herself  in  the 
way  of  the  boats  of  the  blockading  squadron  off  New  London, 
and  on  their  coming  up  to  take  possession  of  her,  the  crew 
took  to  their  boats,  and  made  their  escape.  It  was  expected 
that  the  schooner  would  be  taken  along-side  of  the  Ramilies  to 
unload;  but  the  wind  and  tide  being  against  them,  and  night 
coming  on,  it  was  determined  to  unload  as  much  of  the  flour 
m  the  boats  as  could  Conveniently  be  done.  When  they  came 
lo  the  barrel  of  powder  in  which  the  gun-lock  was  placed,  and 
hooked  the  tackle  to  hoist  it  on  deck^  it  sprung  the  trigger, 
and  blew  up  the  schooner  and  all  on  board  and  around  her,  and 
in  a  few  seconds  not  a  vestige  of  them  was  to  be  seen. 

The  attempt  on  the  Plantagenet  was  made  in  the  month  of 
Uily,  by  means  of  a  torpedo,  On  the  night  of  the  18th,  Mr. 
Mix,  of  the  United  States  navy,  accompanied  by  two  persons 
who  volunteered  for  the  purpose,  proceeded  from  Norfolk 
<iown  to  the  Plantagenet,  in  a  large  ojien  boat,  and  from  pre- 
vious observations  found  no  difficulty  in  ascertaining  her  po%i- 
lion.  When  Mix  had  got  to  within  ,40  fathom  of  her,  he  drop- 
ped  the  torpedo  over,  in  the  veiy  instant  of  doing  which  he 
was  hailed  by  one  of  the  enemy's  guard  boats.  The  machine 
was  speedily  taken  into  the  boat  again,  and  he  made  his  way 
off  in  safety.  On  the  night  of  the  19th  he  made  another  at- 
tempt, and  was  again  discovered  ere  he  could  accomplish  his 
purpose.  On  the  night  of  the  20th  he  .acceeded  in  getting 
within  15  yards  of  the  ship's  bow,  and  directly  under  her  jib- 
boom.  There  he  continued  making  his  preparations  for  15 
minutes,  when  a  centinelfrom  the  forecastle  hailed  «  boat  ahoy!" 
and  he  had  once  more  to  decamp.  The  centincl  not  being  an- 
swered, fired  his  musket,  which  was  followed  by  a  rapid  dis- 
charge of  small  arms.  Blue  lights  were  made  to  find  out  the 
boat,  but  failed;  they  then  threw  rockets  in  different  directions, 
which  illuminated  the  water  for  a  considerable  width  as  far  as 


•yed,  if  effect- 
commissioned 
which  several 
larkabie  were 
d  against  the 
5  Chesapeake 

25th  of  June, 
'^ith  a  number 
»f  which  was 
de  fast  to  the 
a  few  barrels 
lerself  in  the 
New  London, 
er,  the  crew 
was  expected 
e  Ramilies  to 
tn,  and  night 
h  of  the  flour 
len  they  came 
IS  placed,  and 
:  the  trigger, 
ound  her,  and 
seen. 

the  month  of 
he  18th,  Mr. 
J  two  persons 
"rom  Norfolk 
nd  from  pre- 
ling  her  po%i- 
her,  he  drop- 
ng  which  he 
The  machine 
nade  his  way 
le  another  at- 
complish  his 
ed  in  getting 
mder  her  jil>- 
•ations  for  15 
"boat  ahoy!" 
not  being  an- 
^  a  rapid  dis- 
)  find  out  the 
nt  directions, 
idth  as  far  as 


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Pi 

'HI 

niSTORY  OF  THE  WAR.  95 

ihey  were  thrown,  M  succeedet.  .a  discovering  the  position 
of  the  nocturnal  visitor;  when  the  ship  commenced  a  rapid  fire 
ot  heavy  guns,  shppcd  her  cables,  and  made  some  sail,  while 
her  boats  were  despatched  in  pursuit.— The  daring  intruders 
however,  escaped  unhurt.-The  visit  was  repeated  on  the 
nights  oi  the  21  St,  22d,  and  23d,  withoijt  success,  as  the  ship, 
having  taken  the  alarm,  changed  her  position  every  niRht.  On 
the  night ot  the  24th,  however,  Mr.  Mixsucceeded  in  findinjj  her 
out,  and  havmg  taken  his  position  within  100  yards  distance,  in 
a  direction  with  her  larboard  bow,  he  dropped  the  iUtal  ^a- 
chine  mto  the  water  just  as  the  centinel  was  c*ing  ail's  well 
It  was  swept  along  with  the  tide,  and  would  hive  completely 
effected  its  errand,  it  is  said,  had  it  not  exploded  a  few  seconds 

ronr.w'       r     "^^"^^^^  '^^^""y  «^blimc.     It  was  like  the 
concussion  of  an  earthquake,  attended  with  a  sound  louder  and 
more  terrific  than  the  heaviest  peal  of  thunder.    A  pyramid  of 
^n"^'' ^n  ^'""^^  '^  circumference  was  thrown  up  to  the  height  of 
30or40teet;  its  appearance  was  a  vivid  red,  tinged  at  the 
sides  with  a  beautiful  purple.     On  ascending  to  its  greatest 
height,  It  burst  at  the  top  with  a  tremendou?  explosion,  and 
fell  in  torrems  on  the  deck  of  the  ship,  which  rolled  into  the 
yawnmg  chasm  below,   and  had  nearly  upset.-Impervious 
darkness  again  prevailed.     The  light  occasioned  by  the  ex- 
plosion,  though  fleeting,  enabled  Mr.  Mix  and  his  companions 
1  hnf.'°r'K^'  '^  forechannel  of  the  ship  was  blown  Sf^and 
a  boat  which  lay  alongside  with  several  men  in  her,  was  thJowii 
up  m  the  dreadful  convulsion  of  the  waters.    Terrible,  indTd 
must  have  been  the  panic  of  the  ship's  crew,  from  the  noise 
ana  confusion  which  appeared  to  our  adventurers  to  prcvaTon 
board;  and  they  are  certain  that  nearly  the  whole  shipl  crew 
hastily  betook  themselves  to  the  boats  ^ 

coImJTiltV''-'''''^  ^"'^  interesting  account  of  the  naval 
conflict  on  lake  Erie;  was  written  by  an  eye-witness.—'*  Com. 

from  Black' 1."  T"'^f  ^"^  ^  '^""^'  ''''''  ^^  '^-'^  vesseh 
trom  Black  Rock.— fhe  Queen  Charlotte  and  Lady  Pi-evost 

were  cruismg  off  Long  Point  to  intercept  him-he  pa^ssed  them 
n  the  night  unperceived.  The  Lawrence  and  Niagara  were 
then  on  the  stocks-every  exertion  was  made  to  expe^dite  their 
buildmg  and  equipment,  and  early  in  August  theyVere  ready 
If  the  h.rh.  ,  ''''''  necessary  to  pass  the  bar  at  the  emrance  , 
ot  the  narbour,  over  which  there  was  but  six  feet  wat^r,  and 
the  brigs  drew  mne.  The  British  fleet  appeared  off  the  ha r- 
nour,  tor  the  purpose  of  preventing  our's  from  going  to  lake!— 
Abe  means  employed  by  our  officers  to  take  tlie  brigs  over  the 
i>ar,  were  ingenious  and  deserve  mention.     Two  large  scows, 


96 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


4-' 


fifty  feet  long,  ten  feet  wide,  and  eight  fe^t  deep,  were  prepar- 
ed— they  were  first  filled  with  water  and  then  floated  along  side 
one  of  the  vessels  in  a  parallel  direction;  they  were  then  se- 
cured by  means  of  large  piecef  6f  hewn  timber  placed  athwart 
ship,  wi*;h  both  ends  projecting  from  the  port  holes  across  the 
scows;  the  space  between  the  timbers  and  the  boat,  being  se- 
ciired'by  otlier  pieces  properly  arranged;  4.he  water  was  then 
bailed  from  the  scows,  thereby  giving  them  an  astonishing 
lifting  power.  It  was  thtis  that  the  bar  was  passed,  befoi^e 
the  enemy  had  taken  the  proper  steps  to  oppose  it.  One  ob- 
stacle was  surmounted,  but  the  fleet  v/as  not  in  a  condition  to 
seek  the  enemy  at  Maiden.  There  was  not  at  this  time  more 
than  half  sailors  enough  to  man  the  fleet.  However,  a  num- 
ber of  Pennsylvania  miliiia  having  volunteered  their  services, 
the  commodore  made  a  short  cj-uize  off*  Long  Point,  more 
perhaps,  for  the  purpose  cf  exercising  his  men  than  seeking 
un  oinemy. 

"About  the  last  of  August  commodore  Perry  left  Erie,  to  co- 
operate with  general  Harrison  in  the  reduction  of  Maiden.  He 
anchored  off  the  mouth  of  Sandusky  river,  and  had  an  inter- 
view with  general  I  arrison,  who  furnished  him  with  about  se- 
venty volurrteers,  principally  Kentuckians,  to  serve  as  marines 
on  board  the  fleet.  Captain  Dobbin,  in  the  Ohio,  was  ordered 
to  return  to  Erie  for  provisions.  The  Amelia  had  been  left 
there  for  want  of  men  to  man  her.  Exclusive  of  these  he  hud 
niae  sail,  mounting  in  all  fifty-four  guns.  The  British  3eet  at 
Maiden,  consisted  of  six  sail,  and  mounted  sixty-six  guns. 

«  Commodore  Perry  appeared  before  Maiden,  ofiercd  battle, 
reconnoitered  the  enemy  and  retired  to  Put-in-Bay,  thirty -five 
miles  distant  from  his  antagonist.  Both  parties  remained  a 
few  days  inactive;  but  their  repose  was  that  of  the  lion. 

.«  On  the  morning  of  the  10th  of  September,  at  sunrises,  tlie 
enemy  were  discovered  bearing  down  from  Maiden  for  the 
evident  purpose  of  attacking  our  squadron,  then  At  anchor  in 
Put-ln-Bay.  Not  a  moment  was  tol^e  lost.  Perry's  squadron 
immediately  got  under  way,  and  stood  out  to  meet  the  British 
fleet,  which  r.t  this  time  had  the  weather  gage.  At  10  A.  M. 
the  -wind  shifted  from  S.  W.  to  S.  E.  which  brought  our  squad- 
ron to  windward.  The  wind  was  light,  the  day  beautiful — not 
a.  cloud  obscured  the  horizon.  The  line  was  formed  at  1 1, 
and  eoir.modore  Perry  caused  an  elegant  flag,  which  he  had 
privately  prepared,  to  be  hoisted  at  the  mast  head  of  the  Law- 
rence; on  this  flag  was  painted,  in  characters  legible  to  the 
whole  fleet,  the  dying  words  of  the  immortal  Lawrence:— 
"Don't  give  ui*  the  ship."     Its  elTfct  is*  not  to  be  describ- 


<« 


^p 


§   4% 


m 


X,  OF  THE  WAR. 


ctl--evcry  heart  w^el|||J|r*rhe  Screws  cheered— the  ex- 
hilarating can  was  f^^l^qpioth  fleets  appeared  eager  for  tiio 
conflict,  on  the  result  of  which;  so  much  depended.  At  15  min- 
utes before  12,  the  Detroit,  the  heal'rmost  ship  of  the  enemy, 
opened  upon  the  Lawi-6nce,  which  iqlF  ten  minutes,  was  oblic- 
ed  to  sustain  a  well  directed  and'i^avy  fire  irom  the  cnemy\ 
two  large  sliips,  without  bein^  able^ to' return  it  with  carron- 
ades,  at  five  minutes  before  tv<^elve  the  Lawren^  opened  upon 
the  enemy—th^  other  vessels  were  ordered  to  support  her 
but  the  wind  was  at  this  time  too  light  to  enable  them  to  come 
up.     Every  bnice  and  bowline  of  ^he  Lawrence  being  soon 
saot  away,  she  became  unmanageablerand  in  this  situatiSi  sus- 
tained the  action  upwards  of  two  hoiirs,  Nathin  canister  dis- 
tance, upl  every  gun  was  rendered  useless,  and  but  a  small 
part  of  her  crew  left  uahurt  upon  deck.     -  .< 

«  At  half  past  two  tl.e  wind  increased  and  enabled  the  Nia- 
gara to  come  into  close  action— the  gun-boats  took  a  nearer  L. ' 
sition.     Commodore  Perry  left  his  ship  hi  charge  of  Lt.  Yar- 

v'Cr  fF^'T  ^"^.^''V^'  ^'^^^'^  J"=*^  ^'  h«%eached  that 
H v!!i  '  r  .  ^  J-^^  Lawrence  came  down;4iie  cdsis  had  ar- 
lived.  Captain  Eiliot  at  this  moment  anticipated  the  wilhes 
oi  the  commodore,  by  volunteering  his  services  to  brine  the 
schooners  into  close  action.  ^V  ^ 

r\l^^  forty.fiy^  minutes  past  two  the  signal  was  made  for 
close  action.     The  Niagara  being  very  little  iniured,  and  her 
crew  tresh,  the  commodore  determined  to  pass  through  the 
eiiemy  s  hne;  he  accordingly  bore  up  and  passed  ab-^^ad  of  the 
Detroit,  Queen  Charlotte,  and  Lady  Prevost,  pouring  a  teiTi- 
ble  raking  fire  into  them  from  the  starboard  guns,  and  on  the 
Chippeway  and  Little  Beit,  from  the  larboard  side,  at  half  ois^ 
tol  shot  distance.     The  small  vessels  at  this  time  having  got 
within  grape  and  canister  distance,  kept  up  a  well  directed 
and  destructive  fire.     The  action  now  raged  with  the  greatest 
ury-the  Queen  Charlotte,  having  lost^er  commanderti^' 
several  of  her  principal  officers,  in  a  moment  of  confusion  g^ 
foul  of  the  Dctroit-in  this  situation  the  enemy  in  their  turn 
had    o  sustam  a  tremendous  fire  without  the  power  of  return- 
ing  U  with  much  effect;  the  carnage  was  horrible— the  flLs  of 
the  Detroit,  Queen  Charlotte  and  Lady  Prevost,  were  st?uck 
m  rapid  succession.     The  brig  Hunter,  and  schooner  CWdd-. 
way,  were  soon  compelled  to  follow  the  example.     The  Little 
Belt  attempted  to  escape  to  Maiden,  but  she  was  pursued  by 
two  ot  the  gun-boats  and   surrpnrlp,t'e'^  oK«.,*  4^k-^J^_:i^^  j^/ 

tant  from  the  scene  of  action.  "  *"'""  '^"" 

«  The  ^iter  of  this  account,  in  company  with  five  others* 
-    '  12  ^    ' 


,("#.. 


■  f  ^ .   . 


In 


98- 


HI6TOR\   OF  TH 


% 


■■^ 


arrived  at  the  head  of  Put-iri^Ba^land,  ^the  evening  of  tho 
9th,  and  had  a  view  of  the  acti^lpSr  th^  distance  of  only  ten 
niiles.  The  spectacle  was  truly  grand  Slid  awful,  i'he  firinij 
was  incessant,  for  the  s^acc  of  three  hours,  and  continued  at 
short  intervals  forty -fi^e  minutes  longer.  In  less  ^than  one 
hour  after  the  battle  beg^i,  most  of  the  vessels  of  both  fleets 
were  enveloped  in  a  cIoikI  of  smoak,  which  rendered  thfe  issue 
of  the  action  uncertain,  till  the  next  morning,  when  we  visited 
the  fleet  in  the  harbour  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  island.  The 
reader  will  easily  judge  of  our  solicitude  to  learn  the  result. 
There  is  no  sentiment  more  painful  than  suspense,  when  it  is 
excited  by  the  uncertain  issue  of  an  event  like  this. 

"  If  the  wind  had  continued  at  S.  W.  it  was  the  intention  of 
admiral  Barclay  to  have  boarded  our  squadron;  for  this  pur- 
pose he  had  taken  on  board  his  fleet  about  200  of  the  famous 
41st  regiment;  they  acted  as  marines  and  fought  bravely,  but 
iiearly  two  thirds  of  them  were  either  killed  or  wounded. 

"The  carnage  on  board  the  prizes  was  prodigious — they 
must  have  lost  200  in  killed  besides  wounded.  The  sides  of  the 
Detroit  and  Queen  Charlotte  were  shattered  from  bow  to  steri ; 
there  were  searcely  room  to  place  one's  hand  on  their  larboard 
sides  without  touching  the  impression  of  a  bhot — a  great  ma- 
ny balls,  canister  and  grape,  were  found  lodged  in  their  bul- 
warks, which  were  too  thick  to  be  penetrated  by  our  carronades 
unless  within  pistol  shot  distance.  Their  masts  were  so  much 
shattered  that  they  fell  overboard  soon  after  they  got  into  the 
bay. 

"  The  loss  of  the  Americans  was  severe,  particularly  on 
board  the  Lawrence.  When  her  flag  was  struck  she  haci  b\it 
nine  men  fit  for  duty  remaining  on  deck.  Her  sides  were 
completely  riddled  by  the  shot  from  the  long  guns  of  the  Brit- 
ish ships.  Her  deck,  the  morning  after  the  conflict,  when  I 
first  went  on  board,  exhibited  a  scene  that  defies  description — 
for  it  was  literally  covered  with  blood,  which  still  adhered  to 
the  planh  in  clots — brains,  hair  and  fragments  of  bones  were 
jitill  sticking  to  the  rigging  and  sides.     The  surgeons  were 

still  busy  with  the  wounded enough!  horror  appalled  my 

senses. 

"Among  the  wounded  were  several  brave  fellows,  each  of 
whdm  had  lost  a  leg  or  an  arm — they  appeared  cheerful  and 
expressed  a  hope  that  they  had  done  their  duty.  Rome  and 
Sparta  would  have  been  proud  of  these  heroes. 

"  It  would  be  invidious  io  particularize  instances  of  indivi- 
dual merit,  where  everv  one  so  nobly  performed  his  nart  Of 
tlic  nine  seamen  rcwmining  unhurt  at  the  time  the  Lawrence 


I 


^  ..^Aip^lf 


HIS-yORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


99 


struck  her  flag,  five  were  immediately  promo*  or  their  un- 
shaken firmness  in  such  a  trying  situation.  Th  ost  of  these 
had  been  in  the  actions  with  the  Guerriere  and    ava. 

«  Every  officer  of  the  Lawrence,  except  the  commodore  and 
his  little  brother,  a  promising  youth,  13  years  old,  were  either 
killed  or  wounded. 

«  The  efficacy  of  the  gun  boats  was  fully  proved  in  this  ac- 
tion, and  the  stems  of  all  the  prizes  bear  ample  testimony  of 
the  fact.  They  took  raking  positions  and  galled  the  enemy 
severely.  The  Lady  Prevost  lost  twelve  men  before  either  of 
the  brigs  fired  on  her.  Their  fire  was  quick  and  precise.  Let 
us  hear  the  enem.y.  The  general  order  of  Adjutant  General 
Baynes,  contains  the  following  words:  «  His  [Perry's]  numer- 
ous gun  boats,  [four]  which  had  proved  the  greatest  annoyance 
dur;ng  the  action,  were  all  uninjured." 

«  The  undaunted  bravery  of  admiral  Barclay  entitled  him  to 
a  better  fate;  to  the  loss  of  the  day  was  superadded  grievous, 
and  dangerous  wounds:  he  had  before  lost  an  arm;  it  was  now 
his  hard  fortune  to  lose  the  use  of  the  other,  by  a  shot  which 
carried  away  the  blade  of  the  right  shoulder;  a  canister  shot 
made  a  violent  contusion  in  his  hip:  his  wounds  were  for  some 
days  considered  mortal.  Every  possible  attention  was  paid  to 
his  situation.  When  commodore  Perry  sailed  for  Buffaloe,  he 
was  so  far  recovered  that  he  took  passage  on  board  our  fleet 
The  fleet  touclied  at  Erie.  The  citizens  saw  tiie  aff'ectin^ 
spectacle  of  Harrison  and  Pen^  leading  the  wounded  British 
Hero,  still  unable  to  walk  without  help,  from  the  beach  to  their 
lodgings. 

«  On  board  the  Detroit,  twenty-four  hours  after  her  surren- 
der, were  found  snugly  stowed  away  in  the  hold,  two  Indian 
Chiefs,  who  had  the  courage  to  go  on  board  at  Maiden,  for  the 
purpose  of  acting  as  sharp  shooters  to  kill  our  officers.  One 
had  the  courage  to  ascend  into  the  round  top  and  discharged 
his  piece,  but  the  whizzing  of  shot,  splinters,  and  bits  of  riRff- 
ing,  soon  made  the  place  too  warm  for  him—he  descended 
faster  than  he  went  up;  at  the  moment  he  reached  the  deck 
the  fragments  of  a  seaman's  head  struck  his  comrade's  face' 
and  covered  it  with  blood  and  brains.  He  vociferated  the  sav- 
age interjection  «  guohr  and  both  sought  safety  below. 

«  The  British  officers  had  domesticated  a  bear  at  Maiden 
Bruin  accompanied  his  comradea  to  battle— was  on  the  deck 
of  the  Detroit  during  the  engagement,  and  escaped  unhurt. 

n.'u^%  i^^^^c  °^  ^?^^  ^^^^^  ^^^®  thrown  overboard  as  fast 
-  •  viivy  iSii.  i-jcverai  vferc  wasnea  ashore  upoii  the  island  and 
the  mau)  during  the  gales  that  succeeded  the  action. 


100 


HISTORY   OF  TH^WAR. 


«  Commodore  Perry  treated  the  prisoners  with  humanit) 
and  indulgence;  several  Canadians,  having  wives  at  Maiden 
were  permitted  to  visit  their  families  on  parole.  ' 

«  The  British  were  guperior  in  the  length  and  number  of 
their  guns,  as  well  as  in  the  number  of  men.     The  American 
fleet  was  manned  with  a  motly  set  of  beings,  Europeans,  Afii- 
cans,  Americans  from  every  part  of  the  United  States.     Full 
one  fourth  were  blacks.     I  saw  one   Russian^  who  could  not 
speak  a  word  of  English.     They  were  brave— and  who  could 
be  otherwise  under  the  command  of  Perry? 
_  «  The  day  after  the  battle,  the  funeral  obsequies  of  the  Amc 
rican  aixl  British  officers,  who  had  fallen  in  the  action,  were 
performed,  in  an  appropriate  and  affecting  manner.     An  open- 
ing on  the  margin  of  the  bay,  was  selected  for  tlic  interment  of 
the  bodies.     The  ere v-s  of  both  fleets  attended.     The  weather 
>yas  fine — the  elements  seemed  to  participate  in  the  solemni- 
ties of  the  day,  for  every  breeze  was  hushed  and  not  a  wave 
ruffled  the  surface  of  the  water.     The  procession  of  boats— 
the  neat  appearance  of  the  officers  and  men— the  music— the 
slow  and  regular  mbtion  of  the  oars,  striking  in  exact  time 
with  the  notes  of  the  solemn  dirge — the  mournful  waving  of 
the  flags — ^the  sound  of  the  minute  guns  from  the  diff"erent 
ships  in  the  harbour — ^the  wild  and  solitary  aspect  of  the  place 
— ^the  stilness  of  nature,  gave  to  the  scene  an  air  of  melancholy 
grandeur,  better  felt  than  described— all  acknowledged  its  in- 
fluence— all  were  sensibly  aff'ected.     What  a  contrast  did  it 
exhibit  to  the  terrible  conflict  of  the  preceding  day!  Then  the 
people  of  the  two  squadrons  were  engaged  in  the  deadly  strife 
of  arms.     Now  they  associated  like  brothers,  to  pay  tiie  last 
sad  tribute  of  respect  to  the  dead  of  boih  nations. 

«  Fit^e  officers  were  interred,  two  American  and  three  British. 
Lt.  Brooks  and  midshipman  Laub  of  the  Lawrence;  captain 
Finnis  and  lieutenant  Stokoe  of  the  Queen  Charlotte,  and  lieu- 
tenant Garland  of  the  Detroit.  The  graves  are  but  a  few  paces 
from  the  beach,  and  the  future  traveller  of  either  nation,  will 
find  no  memento  whereby  he  may  distinguish  the  American 
from  the  British  hero. 

"  The  marines  of  our  fleet  were  highly  complimented  by  the 
commodore,  for  their  good  conduct;  although  it  was  the  first 
time  the  most  of  them  had  seen  a  square  rigged  vessel,  being 
fresh  from  Harrison's  army.  The  Kentuckians  proved,  on  this 
occasion,  as  has  the  commodore  since,  that  they  can  fight  on 
both  elements.^* 


jkm.>j  owuji  Mdi 


iuv  piiscncraauu  wouiiucu  were  laiiUeu,  iiiciieel 
was  employed  iii  concentrating  general  Harrison's  army,  by 


HISTORY   OF  TUB  ^VAK. 


101 


ttansporting  them  from  Portage  River  and  Fort  Meigs  to  Put- 
in-bay. This  duty  was  completed  about  the  20th  of  September, 
and  on  the  22d  about  1200  of  the  troops  were  landed  by  Perry 
on  a  small  island  about  four  leagues  from  Maiden.  On  the  fol- 
lowing day  they  were  again  embarked,  and  landed  in  the  after- 
noon a  small  distance  below  Maiden,  and  m  an  hour  after  Har- 
rison took  possession  of  the  town  of  Amherstberg,  without  op- 
position, general  Proctor  having  previously  burnt  Fort  Mai- 
den, the  navy-yard,  barracks,  and  public  store-houses,  and  then 
retreated  to  Sandwich.  Being  followed  by  Harrison,  he  re- 
tired to  a  strong  position  on  the  right  bank  of  tiie  river  Thames; 
near  Moravian  Town,  about  80  miles  from  Detroit,  leaving  the 
Mi-chigan  territory  in  the  possession  of  the  Americans. 

On  the  2d  of  October  general  Harrison  left  Sandwich  in  pur- 
suit of  Proctor,  with  about  140  regulars,  colonel  Johnson's 
mounted  regiment,  and  the  Kentucky  volunteers  under  the 
veneraDle  governor  Shelby,  amounting,  in  the  whole,  to  near 
3500  men.  Harrison  was  accompanied  by  commodore  Perry, 
who  volunteered  as  his  aid-de-camp. 

The  army  reached  the  river  Thames,  which  falls  into  lake 
St.  Clair,  twenty-five  miles  above  Detroit,  the  same  evening, 
and  next  morning  crossed  by  a  bridge,  which  ^'roctor  had  ne- 
glected to  destroy.  Harrison  put  himself  at  the  head  of  the 
mounted  regiment,  and  pushed  forward,  in  order,  if  possible, 
to  save  the  bridges  over  three  branches  of  the  Thames,  which 
ran  between  him  and  the  British  army.  At  he  first  of  these 
they  captured  a  lieutenant  of  dragoons  and  eleven  privates, 
who  had  been  despatched  by  Proctor  to  destroy  it;  and  the  se- 
cond having  been  but  imperfectly  destroyed,  was  soon  repaired, 
and  the  army  passed  over  and  encamped,  on  the  evenine  of  the 
3d  of  October. 

The  baggage  had  thus  far  been  brought  in  boats  accompanied 
by  gun-boats,  to  protect  it,  and  if  necessary  to  cover  the  pas- 
sage of  the  army  across  the  rivers :  but  the  river  above  being 
narrow,  with  high  woody  banks,  it  became  necessary  to  leave 
the  baggage  under  a  guard,  and  to  trust  to  the  bravery  of  the 
troops  to  effect  s^(|assage  across  the  remaining  stream.  Next 
morning,  about  eight  miles  above  their  encampment,  the  army 
arrived  at  the  third  unfordable  branch  of  the  Thames,  where 
they  found  that  the  bridge  over  its  mouth,  as  well  as  one  a  mile 
above,  had  been  taken  up  by  the  Indians.  :^fire  several  hun- 
dred of  the  Indians  attempted  to  dispute  the  passage  of  the 
troops,  but  ^he  fire  from  two  six -pounders  soon  drove  them  off, 
and  iii  about  two  hours  the  bridge  was  repaired  and  the  troops 
crossed,  just  in  time  to  extinguish  a  house  that  had  been  set  on 


)02 


History  of  the  wjtn. 


fire  containing  a  considerable  number  of  wisketa,  which  were 
lortunately  saved.  At  the  first  farm  above  the  bridge  was  found 
one  of  the  enemy's  vessels  on  fire,  and  here  intelligence  was  rt- 
ceivcG  that  they  were  but  a  few  miles  ahead. 

The  arrny  halted  for  the  night  about  four  miles  above  the 
bridge,  where  they  found  two  other  vessels  and  a  large  distil- 
iery  tilled  with  ordnance  and  other  valuable  stores  to  an  im- 
mense amount,  in  flames.  It  was  impossible  to  extin- 
guishthe  hre,  but  two  mounted  twc.ty.four  pounders  were 
-  taken,  and  a  large  quantity  of  ball  and  shells  of  various  sizes. 
i^arly  on  the  morning  of  the  5th  the  troops  were  again  put  in 
motion,  and  m  the  afternoon  the  officer  commanding  the  ad- 
vance sent  to  inform  general  Harrison  that  his  progress  was 
stopped  by  the  enemy,  who  were  formed  across  the  line  of 
march. 

Between  the  two  armies,  the  road  passed  through  an  unclear- 
ed beech  forest,  pretty  clear  of  underwood,  near  the  banks  of 
the  river,  parallel  to  which,  at  the  distance  of  two  of  three  hun- 
clred  yards,  extended  a  swamp  several  miles  in  length.  Across 
this  strip  of  landthfe  British  were  drawn  up;  their  left  resting 
on  the  river,  supported  by  artillery,  their  right  on  the  swamp, 
covered  by  the  Indians.  ^' 

The  American  troops  were  now  formed  in  order  of  battle. 
General  Trotter's  brigade  formed  the  front  Hne,  his  right  upon 
the  road,  and  his  left  upon  the  swamp,  with  general  Desha's 
division,  consisting  of  two  brigades,  formed  en  fiotence*,  upon 
nis  left.  General  King's  brigade  formed  a  second  line;  150 
yards  in  the  rear  of  Trotter's;  and  Chiles'  brigade  a  corns  of  re- 
serve  in  the  rear.  Trotter'-,  King's  and  Chiles'  brigades  form- 
ed the  command  of  major-general  Henry.  Each  brigade  aver- 
aged nearly  500  men.  The  crotchet  formed  by  Desha's  divi- 
sion was  occupied  by  Shelby,  the  governor  of  Kentucky,  a  ve-  ' 
teran  of  sixty-six  years  of  age,  who  had  distinguished  himself 
^n  the  revolutionary  war  at  King's  Mountain.  The  regular 
troops,  who  now  amounted  only  to  1 20  men,  occupied  in  columns 
of  sections  of  four,  the  small  space  between  the  road  and  the 
river,  forths  purpose  of  seizing  the  enemy#artillery,  and  ten 
or  twelve  friendly  Indians  were  directed  to  move  under  the 
bank.     Harrison  had  directed  Johnson's  mounted  infantry  to 


*  Troo/is  are  ranged  en  potence  by  breaking  a  straight  line^ 
and  throwing  a  certain  /iro/iortion  of  it  either  forward  or  back- 
=ivardj  from  th^  right  or  icft^  according  to  circumstances^  for  the 
ftiirposg  of  securing  that  ^me.— Duanc's  Military  Dictionary. 


HtSTORY   OP  THE  WAR. 


lo; 


form  in  two  lines  opposite  to  the  enemy,  and,  when  the  infantry 
advanced,  to  take  ground  to  the  left,  and,  forming  upon  that 
flunk,  to  endeavour  to  turn  the  right  of  the  Indians.  It  was 
perceived,  however,  that  it  would  be  impracticable  for  them  to 
do  any  thing  on  horseback  in  that  quarter,  owing  to  the  thick- 
ness of  the  woods  and  swampiness  of  the  ground.  A  measure 
altogether  novel  was  therefore  determined  on,  which  was 
crowned  with  the  most  signal  success.—The  American  back- 
woodsmen ride  better  in  the  woods  than  any  other  people.  A 
musket  or  rifle  is  no  impediment  to  them,  being  accustomed  to 
( arry  them  on  horseback  from  their  earliest  youth.  A  chart^e 
was  determmed  on,  and  accordingly  the  regiment  was  drawn  up 
m  close  column,  with  its  right  at  the  distance  of  fifty  yards  from 
tiie  road,  that  it  might  in  some  measure  be  protected  by  the 
ii-ees  from  the  artillery,  and  the  left  upon  the  ^amp. 

Tlie  army  moved  on  in  this  order  but  a  short  distance,  when 
the  mounted  men  received  the  fire  of  the  British  line,  and  were 
instantly  ordered  to  charge.  The  horses  in  the  front  of  the  co- 
himn  recoiled  from  the  fire;  but,  on  receiving  a  second  fire,  the 
cx)lumn  got  into  motion,  and  immediately,  at  full  speed,  broke 
through  the  enemy  with  irresistible  force.  In  one  minute  the 
( ontest  was  over  in  front.  The  British  officers  seeing  no  hope 
nt  reducing  their  disordered  ranks  to  order,  the  mounted  infan- 
try wiieelmg  upon  them,  and  pouring  in  a  destructive  fire,  im- 
mediately surrendered.  Only  three  of  the  Americans  were 
wounded  in  this  charge. 

Upon  the  American  left,  however,  the  contest  with  the  In- 
dians  was  more  severe.  Colonel  Johnson,  who  commanded  on 
irtat  Hank  ot  his  regiment,  received  a  most, galling  fire  from 
them,  winch  was  returned  with  great  effect.  The  Indians  still 
turther  to  the  left  advanced,  and  fell  in  with  the  front  line  of  in- 
J^ntry,  near  its  junction  with  the  division  en /lotence^and  for  a 
moment  made  an  impression  upon  it.  Governor  Shelby,  how- 
ever, who,  as  already  stated,  was  stationed  near  this  point, 
i^rought  up  a  regiment  to  its  support.  The  enemy  now  receiv- 
ca  a  severe  fire  in  front,  and  a  part  of  the  mounted  men  having 
gained  their  rear,  they  immediately  retreated  with  precipitation. 

ihe  moment  had  now  arrived  which  was  to  prove  whether 
^iie  stigma  winch  had  been  thrown  on  our  Kentucky  bfethren 
M'iis  tounrled  on  truth  or  falsehood;  when  it  was  to  be  seen 
further  they  were  « a. ferocious  and  mortal  foe,  using  the 
same  mode  of  warfare".*  with  the  allies  of  Britain.  The  troops 


General  Brock's  /iroclamaiion. 


104 


HWTORY   O?  THE  WAR. 


ir 


who  had  now  completely  in  their  power  the  army  under  whose 
eyes  had  been  acted  the  tragedy  of  the  river  Raisin,  and  that 
which  wasf  acted  on  the  Miami  after  the  defeat  of  colonel 
Dudley,  were  almost  exclusively  composed  of  Kentuckians, 
of  men  who  had  lost  their  brothers  or  friends  in  those  shock- 
ing scenes.  Nor  were  even  the  instruments  of  vengeance 
wanting.  They  were  accompanied  by  the  savages,  that  had 
perpetrated  those  deeds,  who  had  just  been  suing  for  mercy, 
and  would  gladly  have  shown  their  claims  to  it,  by  re-acting 
upon  the  Thames  the  bloody  scenes  of  the  river  Raisin.  But 
how  did  they  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity  which  now 
presented?  Did  they  turn  the  tide  of  horrible  warfare  which 
had  deluged  their  borders  in  the  blood  of  wounded  prisoners, 
and  of  helpless  ag'=!  and  infancy,  upon  the  heads  of  its  abettors? 
No:  to  their  honour  and  to  the  honour  of  their  country  be  it 
spoken,  they  did  not.  The  n)bment  they  were  in  their  power 
all  injuries  were  magnanimously  forgotten,  and  the  prisoners 
received  the  most  honourable  and  delicate  treatment  from  the 
hands  of  those  whom  they  had  stigmatised  as  savages,  the 
employment  of  whom  justified  the  use  of  the  Indians. 

Of  the  British  troops,  12  were  killed  and  22  wounded  in  this 
action,  and  six  hundred  and  one  regulars  were  taken  prisoners. 
General  Proctor  escaped  by  the  fleetness  of  his  horses,  es- 
corted by  40  dragoons  and  a  number  of  mounted  Indians.  The 
Indians  suffered  the  greatest  loss.  Thirty-three  were  found 
dead  on  the  ground,  besides  numbers  who  were  killed  in  the 
retreat.  On  the  day  of  the  action  six  pieces  of  brass  artillery 
were  taken,  and  two  twenty-f' ur  pounders  the  day  before. 
Several  others  were  discovered  in  the  river,  which  were  ex- 
pected to  b(B  saved.  Of  the  brass  pieces,  three  were  trophies 
of  the  revolutionary  war,  that  were  taken  at  Saratoga  and  York, 
and  surrendered  by  general  Hull.  The  number  of  small  anus 
captured  by  the  Americans,  or  destroyed  by  the  enemy,  must 
have  exceeded  5000;  most  of  them  had  been  taken  by  the 
British  at  Detroit,  the  river  Raisin,  and  the  Miami.  The  loss 
of  the  Americans  were  seven  killed-and  twenty-two  wounded, 
five  of  whom  have  since  died. 

The  American  troops  certainly  deserved  great  praise  for 
their  conduct  in  this  action;  for,  although  they  considerably 
outnumbered  the  British,  it  must  be  recollected  that  they  were 
only  militia,  and  that  the  British  had  chosen  a  position  that 
effectually  secured  their  flanks,  and  which  it  was  impossible 
for  the  Americans  to  turn,  or  to  present  a  line  more  extended 
than  that  of  the  enemy. 

As  soon  as  Harrison  took  possession  of  Amherslburg  aiid 


HISTORY    aP  THE  WAH. 


105 


Sandwich,  and  re-occupied  the  territory  of  Michigan,  sevci«al 
of  the  Indian  tribes  submitted  and  brought  in  hostages  for 
their  good  behaviour,  and  while  he  was  in  pursuit  of  the 
British,  five  more  tribes  followed  their  e:;ample,  and  brought 
hostages  to  Detroit.  They  were  received  by  general  M'Ar- 
thur,  whom  Harrison  had  left  in  the  command  of  that  place, 
and  it  was  agreed  that  hostilities  should  cease  for  the  present, 
on  condition  that  they  should  «  take  hold  of  the  same  toma- 
hawk with  the  Americans,  and  strike  all  who  are;  or  may  be, 
enemies  to  the  United  States,  whether  British  or  Indians." 

The  army  returned  to  Detroit  shortly  after  the  battle,  where 
they  embarked  on  board  the  fleet  for  Buffaloe,  in  order  to  join 
the  army  under  general  Wilkinson. 

About  the   middle  of  September  an   expedition  was  s^nt 
from  St.  Louis,  on  the  Mississippi,  against  the  Indian  settle- 
ments on  the  Peoria  lake,  on  the  river  Illinois.     It  consisted 
of  about  ?.00  regulars  of  the  1st  regiment  of  United  States 
infantry,  with  a  considerable  body  of  rangers  and  mounted 
militia,    under  the  command   of  brigadier-general    Howard. 
The  regulars    ascended  the  Illinois  in  boa'ts;    the  mounted 
troops  proceeded  up  the  Mississippi  in  two  divisions,  one  on 
each  side  of  the  river,  for  a  considerable  distance,  and  then 
crossed  the  country  to  the  Peoria  lake.     The  different  detach- 
ments had  not  proceeded  far  before  it  was  discovered  (hat  the 
enemy  were  descending  the    Illinois  to  ravage  the  frontier; 
and  a  skirmish  took  place  between  a  party  of  Indians  and  the 
detachment  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi,  who,  however, 
soon  drove  them  before  them.     On  the  evening  of  the  28th  of 
September,  the  two  detachments  that  had  marched  up  the 
Mississippi,  and  chence  across  to  the  Illinois,  arrived  within  a 
tew  miles  of  the  old  village,  and  three  men  were  sent  forward 
to  discover  whether  the  regulars  had  arrived.     During  the 
night  lieutenant-colonel  Nicholson,  who  commanded  the  regu- 
lars, descended  the  Illinois  to  the  encampment,  and  reported 
their  arrival  at  Peoria,  where  they  had  commenced  building  a 
tort.     He  had  been  attacked  by  the  Indians  the  day  previous;^ 
but  the  enemy  were  soon  dispersed  by  a  well-directed  dis- 
charge of  musquetry,  with  the  aid  of  a  six-pounder  from  two 
unfinished  block-houses.     In  this  attack  none  of  the  men  were 
killed,  and  only  one  wounded.— It  was  evident  that  the  assail- 
ants suffered  considerably,  but  to  what  extent  could  not  be 
ascertained.  % 

On  the  29th  the  mounted  troops  arrived  at  Peoria,  and  as 
joon  as  provisions  could  be  drawn,  were  marched  up  the 
Ilhnois  to  the  villages  at  the  head  of  Uie  lake,  which  was  the 

K       ♦ 


! 


106 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


direction  in  which  the  enemy  appeared  to  have  retired  from 
Peona.  The  villajrcs,  being  found  deserted,  were  destroyed, 
nnd  the  troops  returned  to  Peona,  where  they  remained  till 
the  garrison  was  put  in  a  state  of  defence.  Two  detachments 
were  then  sent  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  one  of  which  ascended 
the  Illinois  above  the  mouth  of  t^e  Vermillion  river  to  the 
Rapids,  and  within  17  miles  of  Chicago,  on  lake  Michigan. 
The  other  penetrated  the  country  northwardly  to  within  about 
45  miles  of  Rock  river.  The  latter  discovered  several  encamp- 
ments, which  appeared  to  have  been  deserted  about  the  time 
of  the  army's  arrival  at  Peoria,  but  neither  of  them  were  able 
to  come  up  with  the  enemy. 

The  mounted  troops  remained  at  Peoria  from  the  2d  to  the 
15th  of  October,  during  which  time  they  were  actively 
engaged,  together  with  the  United  States  infantry,  in  erecting 
Fort  Clarke,  which  stands  at  th.e  lower  end  of  the  Peoria  lake, 
completely  commanding  the  Illinois  river.  This  fort  is  one 
of  the  strongest  in  the  western  country,  and  highly  important 
to  the  safety  of  the  Indiana,  Illinois,  and  Missouri  territories. 

The  mounted  troops  moved  from  Peoria  for  the  settlements 
on  the  15th,  leaving  the  regulars  to  garrison  the  fort.  .They 
pursued  generally  a  south  course  till  the  21st,  when  they  ar- 
rived at  Camp  Russell,  where  the  mounted  militia  were  dis- 
charged, and  the  rangers  sent  across  the  country  to  Vincennes 
on  the  Wabash,  where  they  safely  arrived  shortly  after. 

After  the  capture  of  Boerstler's  detachment,  the  army  at 
Fort  George  remained  inactive,  with  the  exception  of  a  few 
trifling  skirmishes  and  attacks  on  out-posts,  for  the  remainder 
of  the  summer.  Two  circumstances  are  supposed  to  have 
caused  this  inactivity.  The  first  was  the  constant  indisposi- 
tion of  general  Dearborn,  which  prevented  him  from  taking 
any  active  part,  and  which  continued  till  the  I5th  of  July,  when 
he  received  orders  to  retire  from  the  command  of  the  anny, 
until  his  health  should  be  re-established,  and  until  further  or- 
ders, the  command  devolving  on  brigadier-general  Boyd.  But 
the  principal  cause  of  the  inactivity  of  this  army  is  presumed 
to  have  been,  the  danger  and  indeed  impracticability  of  under- 
taking great  military  movements  before  Chaunccy  had  ob- 
tained the  complete  command  of  Lake  Ontario.  Before  this 
was  achieved  the  army  would  always  be  liable  to  be  surround- 
ed, and  to  have  its  Supplies  cut  off,  and  could  not  expect  to  be 
successful  even  with  a  force  considerably  superior  to  that  of 
the  enemy.  The  disaster  at  Detroit  had  taught  a  salutary  les- 
son on  this  svibiect. 

Every  exertion  was  accordingly  made  by  commodore  Chaun- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  VVAll. 


107 


«  cy  for  the  attainment  of  this  important  object.  After  the 
raptiu-e  of  Fort  George,  however,  commodore  sir  James  Yeo, 
u  ho  commanded  the  British  squadron,'  having  added  consi- 
derably to  his  force  both  of  vessels  and  sailors,  obliged  Chaun- 
ccy  to  remain  in  port  until  the  new  vessel  the  General  Pike 
<  mild  be  got  ready,  which  was  not  completed  until  the  middle 
of  July.  Before  we  enter  upon  the  trial  of  ckill  which  now 
ensued  between  Chauncey  and  Yeo,  it  may  not  be  improper 
to  take  a  view  of  his  previous  operations. 

Commodore  Chauncey  arrived  at  Sackett's  Harbour  on 
tlie  6th  of  October,  1812,  as  commander  of  the  United  States 
forces  on  the  lakes,  at  which  time  the  only  American  vessel 
on  these  waters  was  the  brig  Oneida;  of  18  guns.  He  imme- 
diately purchased  six  merchant  vessels,  schooners,  which  jvcre 
fitted  out  as  gun-boats.  His  whole  squadron  mounted  40  guns 
of  different  calibres,  with  450  men,  including  marines.  The 
British  force  on  Lake  Ontario  consisted  at  this  time  of  the 
ship  Royal  George,  of  26  guns  and  260  men,  ship  Eail  Moira, 
18  guns  and  200  men,  and  the  schooners  Prince  Regent,  18 
guns  and  250  men,  Duke  of  Gloucester,  14  guns  and  80  men, 
Torento,  1 4  guns  and  80  men.  Governor  Simcoe,  1 2  guns  and 
70  men,  and  Seneca,  4  guns  and  40  men,  making  a  grand  total  of 
108  guns  and  890  men.  Chauncey's  squadron,  especially  the 
schooners,  were  poor  vessels  and  dull  sailers,  but  his  men  were 
much  superior,  a  great  part  of  the  enemy's  sailors  at  this  time 
being  Canadians. 

On  the  8th  of  November  Chauncey  sailed  in  the  Onfida 
with  his  six  schooners,  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  and  on  the 
same  day  fell  in  with  the  Royal  George,  which  he  chased  into 
the  bay  of  Quanti,  where  he  lost  sight  of  her  in  the  night. 
Next  morning  he  again  discovered  her  in  Kingston  channel, 
and  immediately  gave  chase,  and  followed  her  into  the  harbour 
of  Kingston,  where  he  engaged  her  and  the  batteries  for  an 
hour  and  three  quarters.  Chauncey  had  made  up  his  mind  to 
board  her  notwithstanding  sh*  was  protected  by  the  batteries; 
but  the  wind  blowing  directly  in,  the  pilots  refused  to  take 
charge  of  the  vessels,  and  it  w^^^  therefore  deemed  imprudent 
to  m.\ke  the  attempt  at  this  time.  He  accordingly  hauled  off 
and  beat  up  under  a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy,  to  Four-mile 
point,  where  the  squadron  anchored.  Duringthe  night  it  blew 
heavy,  with  squalls  from  the  westward,  and  thei-e  being  every 
appearance  of  a  gale  of  wind,  the  pilot  became  alarmed,  and 
Chauncey  thought  it  most  prudent  to  get  into  a  pkce  of  more 
safety,  and  therefore  reluctantly  deferred  renewing  the  attack 
vmtil  a  more  favourable  opportunity. 


J08 


HISTORY    OF  THE  WAR. 


The  signal  was  made  to  weigh  at  7  next  moniing,  and  the 
squadron  beat  out  of  a  very  narrow  channel,  under  a  heavy 
press  of  sail,  to  the  open  lake.  At  10  they  fell  in  with  the 
Governor  Simcoc,  which  escaped  into  Khigston  harbour  by 
running  over  a  reef  of  rocks,  under  o  heavy  fire  from  three  of 
the  schooners,  during  which  all  her  people  ran  below.  It  now 
coming  on  to  blow  very  heavy,  Chauncey  bore  up  for  Sackcti's 
Harbour,  and  on  his  way  thither  captured  two  sci.ooners,  one 
of  which  was  burnt,  after  taking  out  her  sails  and  rigging. 

The  Oneida,  in  this  affair,  had  one  man  killed,  and  three 
slightly  wounded,  and  a  few  shot  through  her  sails.  The 
schooners  lost  no  men  by  the  enemy's  fire  and  receiv<'d  but 
little  injury  in  their  hulls  and  sails.  'One  of  their  guns,  how- 
ever burst  early  in  the  action,  which  wounded  her  commander 
badly,  and  a  midshipman  and  three  men  slightly.  The  Royal 
George  received  considerable  injury  in  her  hull  and  in  men, 
as  the  gun  vessels,  with  their  long  thirty-two  pounders,  were 
seen  to  strike  her  almost  every  shot,  and  it  was  observed  that 
.she  was  reinforced  with  men  three  different  times  during  the 
action. 

On  the  13th  Chauncey  learnt  that  the  Earl  Moira  was  off 
the  False  Ducks,  and  immediately  put  off  m  a  snow  storm,  in 
the  hope  of  cutting  her  off  from  Kingston.  In  this  he  was 
disappointed,  as  she  escaped  into  the  harbour.  A  vessel  un- 
der her  convoy,  however,  was  captured,  in  which  was  captain 
Brock,  brother  to  the  general.  Chauncey  now  blockaded 
Kingston  until  the  7th  of  December,  when  he  returned  to  Sack- 
ett's  Harbour,  being  no  longer  able  to  keep  the  lake  on  ac- 
count of  the  ice.  During  the  winter  the  ship  Madison,  of  24 
guns,  was  launched  and  fitted  out. 

The  capture  of  York  and  Fort  George  have  already  been 
noticed  in  pages  78  and  80  of  this  volume.  After  these  events 
nothing  of  importance  occurred  until  the  end  of  July,  Chavr  ■ 
cey  being  unable  to  keep  the  lake,  owing  to  several  new  ves 
sels  being  fitted  out  by  the  British,  and  the  arrival  of  sir  Jaar.  s 
Yeo,  with  a  large  body  of  seamen^  to  take  command  of  the 
British  squadron  on  Lake  Ontario.  It  may  be  proper  to  men- 
tion, however,  that  the  brig  Dukc  of  Gloucester  was  captured 
at  York,  and  on  the  13th  of  June  lieutenant  Chauncey,  in  the 
new  schooner  Ladv  t.^  ihe  Lake,  captured,  the  schooner  Lady 
Murray,  laden  w?  i'i  ';"ovisLjns  and  ammunition,  and  sixteen 
officers  and  priva*  3,  r-iskics  the  seamen. 

— -—    .-•.  —  —  ..     v»x     ..\i,yy   ^».».    ^'■- iii^i  cii    i  irvv-     uvitJi;    i«_tiuy    iw 

sail,  which   brought  the  two    squadrons  nearly  to  a  state  of 
equality,  Chauncey  sailed  from  Sackett's  Harbour,  and,  stretch- 


k' 


mSTORT   OF  THE  WAR. 


109 


ing  over  for  the  enemy's  shore,  thence  stood  up  the  like.  He 
arrived  oft'  Niaj^uru  on  llie  27th.  Here  he  was  informed  b\ 
general  Boyd,  that  the  enemy  had  a  considerable  deposit  of 
provisions  and  stores  at  Burlington  Bay,  which  he  determined 
to  attempt  to  destroy,  and  for  that  purpose  embarked  a  small 
number  of  regulars.  At  six  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 
28th,  the  licet  proceeded  for  the  head  of  the  lake,  but  owing 
to  light  winds  and  calms,  did  not  arrive  there  before  the  even- 
ing of  the  29th.  Two  parties  were  immediately  sent  on  shore, 
who  surprised  awd  took  some  of  the  inhabitants,  from  whom 
it  was  lestrned,  that  the  enemy  had  received  considerable  rein- 
forcements, and  that  his  force  in  regulars  was  from  six  to  eight 
hundred  men.  The  troops,  marines,  and  a  fcAv  sailors  were, 
howc  -I,  landed  next  morning,  but  on  reconnoitering  the 
enemy's  position,  he  was  found  posted  on  a  peninsula  of  very 
high  ground,  strongly  entrenched,  and  his  camp  defended  by 
about  eight  pieces  of  cannon.  In  this  situation  it  was  not 
thought  advisable  to  attack  him  with  a  force  scarcely  half  his 
numbers,  and  without  artillery;  more  especially  as  they  were 
deficient  in  boats,  not  having  a  sufficient  number  to  cross  the 
bay  with  all  the  troops  at  the  same  time.  They  accordingly 
re-embarked  in  the  course  of  the  afternoon,  and  in  the  evening 
weighed  and  stood  for  York,  where  they  arrived  on  the  after- 
noon of  the  31st.  The  schooners  ran  into  the  inner  harbour, 
where  the  marines  and  troops  were  landed  without  opposition. 
Several  hundred  barrels  of  flour  and  pi  ovisions  were  found  ia 
the  public  storehouse,  together  with  five  piects  of  cannon, 
eleven  boats,  and  a  (juantity  of  shot,  shells,  and  other  stores, 
all  of  which  were  either  destroyed  or  brought  away.  Neyt 
morning,  after  burning  the  barracks  and  public  storehouses,, 
the  men  were  re-embarked,  and  the  fleet  sailed  for  Niagara,^ 
where  it  arrived  on  the  3d  of  August. 

At  day  light  of  the  7th,  the  enemy's  fleet  being  discovered 
to  windward,  distant  about  five  or  six  miles,  Chauncey  weighed 
ami  i>tood  towards  them.  The  whole  of  this  and  the  next  day 
was  spent  by  the  two  squadrons  in  manoeuvering  to  gain  a 
favourable  position,  in  which  Chauncey  was  much  baflled  by 
the  dull  sailing  of  his  schooners,  two  of  which  were  lost  in  a 
squall  in  the  night,  and  every  soui  oa  board  perished  except 
sixteen.  In  the  eveninj^  of  the  ath,  it  being  very  squally, 
with  the  appearance  of  its  continuing  so  during  the  night, 
Chauncey  ran  in  towards  Niagara,  and  anchored  outside  of  the 
bar.  *•  * 

The  following  morning  (August  9th),  Chauncey  agaia 
^Yeighed  aiid  stood  towards  the  enemy,  wheiVJi trial  of  uautical 

1l2 


I 


no 


HISTORY  OF  THE   WAR. 


skill  once  more  commenced  between  the  two  commanders, 
t-ach  entertaining  too  respectful  an  opinion  of  the  other's  force 
to  come  to  an  engagement  without  having  the  advantage  of  the 
wuid.  In  the  course  of  the  day  the  wind  frequently  veered 
which  instantly  changed  the  characters  of  the  pursuers  and 
the  pursued.  At  length,  towards  midnight,  Yeo,  whose  ves- 
sels sailed  much  better  in  squadron  than  those  of  Chauncev, 
succeeded  in  cutting  off  two  of  the  American  heavy-sailinLr 
schooners,  which,  added  to  Chauncey's  loss  in  the  squall,  gave 
Yeo  a  considerable  superiority  of  force  over  his  opponent.— 
Chauncey,  therefore,  ordered  two  of  his  dullest  sailing  vessels 
to  run  into  Niagara,  and  stood  with  the  rest  of  his  squadron  to- 
wards Sackett's  Harbour,  where  he  arrived  on  the  13th. 

Having  victualled  his  squadron,  which  was  reinforced  with 
a  new  schooner,  Chauncey  shortlv  after  sailed  on  a  cruise,  and 
on  the  7th  of  September,  at  day-light,  while  lying  in  Niagara 
river,  discovered  the  enemy's  fleet  close  in  with  the  shore.— 
The  signal  was  instantly  made  to  weigh,  and  the  fleet  stood 
out  of  the  river  after  him.  Yeo  immediately  made  all  sail  to 
the  northward,  and  Chauncev  pursued  for  four  days,  but  was 
prevented  from  closing  with  him  by  the  heavy  sailing  of  liis 
schooners.  On  the  fourth  day,  while  off  Genesee  river,  Chaun- 
cey  was  favoured  with  a  breeze,  while  Yeo  lay  becalmed  utuU 
his  opponent  got  within  about  three  quarters  of  a  mile  of  hin  , 
when  he  took  the  breeze.  The  squadrons  now  had  a  runnimv 
fight  for  three  hours  and  a  half,  when  the  British  vu  out  of 
gun-shot  by  their  superior  sailing.  The  next  moniine  Yeo 
rap  into  Amherst  bay,  having  been  chased  for  five  davs'^with- 
out  intermission.  Amherst  bay  was  so  little  known  to  the 
American  pilots,  and  said  to  be  so  full  of  slioals,  that  tliey 
were  not  willing  to  take  in  the  fleet;  Chauncey,  therefore,  ;;ia- 
tioned  his  vessels  off  Duck  island,  wiih  the  intention  of  blocl  - 
ading  the  enemy,  and  preventing  them,  hum  L'cttiuu  out  uuon 
the  lake.  '-'    .     ^  i 

In  the  running  fight  which  took  place  on  the  1  Ith,  the  Brit- 
ish sustained  considerable  injury  both  hi  men  and  vessels.  On 
board  the  American  fleet  not  a  inan  was  hurt,  and  the  vessels 
suffered  no  injury  of  any  importance. 

Chauncey  continued  his  blockade  until  the  17th  of  Septem- 
ber, when,  the  wind  blowing  heavy  from  the  westward,  and  ttie 
enemy  having  run  into  Kingston,  he  left  his  station  for  Sack- 
ett's Harbour,  where  he  arrived  the  same  night.  Next  morn- 
ing at  day-light  he  again  sailed,  and  on  the  19th  saw  the  ene- 
my's neei  near  the  False  Ducks,  but  took  no  notice  of  him,  as 
he  wished  him  to  follow  up  the  lake.  The  squadron  arrived 
in  Niagara  river  ou  the  24th. 


HISTORY    OF  THE  WAR. 


Ill 


On  the  26th,  u  was  reported  to  Chauncey  that  the  enemy's 
nf-ti  '?'/''  .  ''^'  ''^'^''^'^  immediately  despatched  the  Lady 
u ;.h  tK  •  f  ^"^  ^^^:^^^^;»  the  fact.  She  returned  in  the  evemn:^ 
^Mth  the  information  that  the  enemy  was  in  York  bay.  The 
squadron  immediately  weighed  anchor,  but,  owing  to  a  strong 

ot  tht  27th.  Owing  to  the  extreme  darkness  of  the  nifrht  a 
part  of  the  squadron  got  separated,  and  did  not  join  till  next 
morning  at  eight,  when  the  General  Pike,  Madison,  and  Sylnl 
each  took  a  schooner  in  tow,  and  made  all  sail  for  York,  a 
soon  after  discovering  the  enemy's  fleet  under  way  in  York 
bay,  the  squadron  shaped  their  course  for  them,  and  prepared 
lor  action.  ^   ^l^an.u 

Yeo,  perceiving  that  Chauncey  intended  to  engage  him  in 
his  position,  tacked  arid  stood  out  of  the  bay,  with  tlv^  win    a 
east.     Chauncey  foru.ed  the  line  and  ran  down  for  Ms  cm  re 
and  when  he  approached  within  about  three  miles  of  him,  Yeo 
made  all  sail  to  the  southward.     Chauncey 's   squadron  then 
)vore  in  succession,  and  stood  on  tlK.  same  tick  with  him,  X. 
ing  down  gradually  in  order  to  close;  and  about  twelve  o'clock 
U-o,  hnding  he  must  either  risk  an  action,  or  suffer  h.is  two 
ear  vessels  to  be  cut  oft",  tacked  his  .quadron  in  succc  s  on 
begmnmg  at  the  van,  hoisted  his  colours,  and  commenced  ; 
el  -directed  fire  at  the  Pike,  for  the  purpose' of  coverin'lus 
car,  and  attacking  the  rear  of  his  opponent  as  he  pas  ^d  to 
onn       ;k  ^^'TT^  ?<^rcc\v.d  his  intention,  and  therefore    's 
oon  as  the  Wolfe,  the  enemy's  leading  ship,  passed  the  c'cn 
^'•e,  and  got  abeam  of  the  American  squadi-on    he  borc\,n  '' 
Micc,;ssion,  preserving  the  line,  for  the  centre  of  the  B mish 
s'luadron      This   manoeuvre  of  Chauncey's  not  only  c^  e     d 
'  's  rear,  but  threw  the  enemy  hito  confusion,  and  cause^d  him 
•nnnediately  to  bear  away.    Cliauncey  had  nov^,  howc've'    e  o 
'1  so  near  as  to  make  his  guns  to  bear  with  eff-ect,  and  l/twen' 
y  minutes  the  main  and  iSizen  topmast  and  mai^  ya  d  of  tT; 
\   olfe  were  shot  away.    Yeo  immediately  put  before    he  wi  d 
jind  set  all  sail  upon  his  fore-mast;  ChaunJey  made  the  sk  nff 
tor  the  fleet  to  make  all  sail;  but  the  enemy;  by  keep  n 'S 
b  fore  the  wind,  which  brought  all  the  sail  upon  one  TiS  Ih 

v^'en' 11  ^i'  ^''^'''^  ''''  ^«^'  «f  ^'''  ^^^  -"^1  mizen  topmast 
was  enabled  to  outsail  most  of  Chauncey's  squj-on    ^n'' 

shot  nfkrJll'  l^J     '"  Asp  HI  tow  was  within  point-blank 
7-nn  n'  --'-/— /"^»  '^i^"  suscamca  tne  whole  ot  his  fire      Cnn 

<t'i,  used  every  exertion  to  close  with  the  enemy;  but  the  Ma- 


112 


HISTORY    OF  THE  WAR. 


dison  having  a  heavy  schooner  m  tow,  and  the  Oneida  sailing 
very  dull  before  the  wind,  prevented  those  officers  from  clos- 
ing near  enough  to  do  any  execution  with  their  carronades. —  ♦ 
The  Governor  Tompkins  kept  in  her  station,  until  her  fore- 
mast was  so  badly  wounded  as  to  oblige  her  to  shorten  sail. 

Commodore  Chauncey  now  reluctantly  relinquished  the  pur- 
suit.    The  reasons  which  induced  this  determination  are  thus 
stated  in  his  letter  to  the  secretary  of  the  navy:  "  At  the  time 
I  gave  up  the  chase,  this  ship  was  making  so  much  water,  thai 
it  required  all  our  pumps  to  keep  her  free  (owing  to  our  re- 
ceiving several  shot  so  much  below  the  water  edge,  that  we 
could  not  plug  the  holes  from  the  outside);  the  Governor 
Tompkins  with  her  fore-mast  gone;  and  the  squadron  within 
about  six  miles  of  the  head  of  the  lake,  it  blowing  a  gale  of 
Avindfrom  cast,  and  increasing,  with  a  heavy  sea  on,  and  every 
appearance  of  the  equinox.     I  considered  that  if  I  chased  the 
enemy  to  his  anchorage  at  the  head  of  the  lake,  I  should  be 
obliged  to  anchor  also;  and  although  we  might  succeed  in  driv- 
ing him  on  shore,  the  probability  was,  that  we  should  go  on 
shore  also — he  amongst  his  friends,  we  amongst  our  enemies; 
and  after  the  gale  abated,  if  he  could  succeed  in  getting  off 
one  or  two  vessels  out  of  the  two  fleets,  it  would  give  him  as 
completely  the  command  of  the  lake  as  if  he  had  twenty  ves- 
sels.    Moreover  he   was  covered  at  his  anchorage  by  a  part 
of  his  army,  and  several  small  batteries  thrown  up  for  the  pur- 
pose.    Therefore,  if  we   could  have   rode   out  the  gale,  we 
should  have  been  cut  up  by  their  shot  from  the  shore:  under  all 
these  circumstances,  and  taking  into  view  the  consequences 
resulting  from  the  loss  of  our  superiority  on  the  lakes  at  this 
time,  I  without  hesitation  relinquished  the  oppartunity  then 
presenting  itself  of  acquiring  individual  reputation  at  the  ex- 
pense of  my  country." 

The  loss  sustained  by  the  Pike,  the  commodore's  ship,  was 
considerable,  owing  to  her  being  so  long  exposed  to  the  fire 
of  the  whole  of  the  enemy's  fleet;  but  her  most  serious  loss 
was  occasioned  by  the  bursting  of  one  of  her  guns,  which  kill- 
ed and  wounded  twenty-tAvo  men,  and  tore  up  the  top-gallant 
fore-castle,  which  rendered  the  gun  upon  that  deck  useless.— 
Four  other  guns  were  cracked  in  the  muzzle,  which  rendered 
their  use  extremely  doubtful.  Her  main-top-gallant  mast  was 
shot  away  in  the  early  part  of  the  action,  and  the  bow-sprit, 
fore  and  main-mast  wounded,  rigging  and  sails  much  cut  up? 
and  a  number  of  shot  in  her  hull,  several  of  which  were  be- 
tween wind  and  water,  and  twenty-seven  men  killed  and 
^vovmded,  including  those  by  the  bursting  of  the  gun.    The 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


113 


Madison  received  a  few  shot,  but  no  person  was  hurt  on  toard. 
1  he  Governor  Tompkins  lost  her  fore-mast,  and  tiic  Oneida 
had  her  mam-top-mast  badly  wounded. 

During  the  chase,  one  or  two  of  the  enemy's  small  vesseln 
were  completely  within  Chaunccy's  power,  but  in  the  eager- 
ness of  nis  pursuit  of  the  larger,  he  passed  them  unnoticed  bv 
which  means  they  finally  escaped. 

Meanwliile  general  Wilkinson  had  arrived  at  ^ort  George 
in  order  to  take  the  command  of  the  army.     About  the  same 
time  the  secretary  of  war  arrived  at  SacketL's  Harbour,  in  or- 
oer  to  be  more  conveniently  situated  for  superintending  milita- 
ry operations.  ° 

The  wind  still  continumg  unfavourable  for  an  attack  on  the 
liritish  squadron  at  the  head  of  the  lake,  Chauncey  ran  off  Nia- 
gara lor  the  purpose  of  communicating  with  Wilkinson,  to  as- 
certain when  he  meant  to  move  with  the  army  to  Sackett's  Har- 
,j  J^^^^^^^^   general's  opinion,  that  the  public  service 
would  be  best  promoted  by  his  watching  the  enemy's  squad- 
ron, or,  if  possible,  preventing  its  return  to  Kingston,  while  he 
inoyed  with  the  army  down  the  lake.     Chauncey,  therefore, 
having  taken  part  of  the  troops  on  board  his  squadron,  the  re- 
mainder proceeding  in  boats  to  Sackett's  Harbour,  immediate- 
ly proceeded  m  quest  of  the  enemy.     The  following  morning, 
Uctober  2d,  he  discovered  the  British  squadron  standing:  to- 
wards him,  and  made  all  sail  in  chase;  but  as  soon  as  the  ffeets 
approached  so  near  as  plainly  to  discern  each  other,  Yeo  put 
ubout,  and  stood  towards  the  head  of  the  lake.    The  chase  con- 
tinued until  the  4th,  little  progress  being  made  against  the 
current,  from  the  lightness  or  variableness  of  the  wind,  the 
iiritish,  however,  evidently  gaining  ground  of  the  American 
squadron.   The  morning  of  the  4th  proving  hazy,  nothing  could 
De  seen  ct  the  enemy,  and  about  noon  it  fell  calm,  when  Chaun- 
cey  ordered  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  to  sweep  up  to  Burlington 
m\  which  was  not  far  distant,  to  ascertain  whether  or  not  the 
squadron  was  there.     In  the  evening  she  returned  with  infor- 
mation that  the  fleet  was  gone,  there  being  nothing  in  the  bay 
but  two  gun-boats.  o  b  } 

It  was  now  evident  that  Yeo,  availing  himselt  of  the  dark- 
ess  ot  the  preceding  night,  had  either  run  for  Kingston,  or 
lown  the  lake  for  the  purpose  of  intercepting  the  flotilla  with 
I    ^"^^^l-  ^-^^auncey,  therefore,  immediately  made  all  sail,  and 
snaped  his  course  for  the  Ducks,  with  a  view  of  intPrrfinthio- 
mni,  or  his  prizes,  if  he  should  have  made  any.     The  wind 
mowing  a  strong  gale  from  the  northward  and  westward,  the 
"cet  made  a  great  run,  and  at  three  in  tlie  afternoon  of  the  5th, 


M 


lU 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


ii 


if 

lS;itfl<. 


I 


discovered  seven  sail  near  the  False  Ducks,  to  which,  presum- 
ing they  were  the  enemy's  fleet,  they  instantly  t^ave  chase.  In 
about  an  hour,  however,  they  were  discovered  to  be  sloops  and 
schooners,  and  were  perceived  to  be  separatinj^;  on  diirereiu 
tacks,  on  which  the  Sylph  and  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  were  dis- 
patched after  one  part,  and  Chauncey  in  the  Pike  pursued  the 
others.  About  five  o'clock  the  enemy,  finding  that  the  Pike 
was  fast  gaining  on  him,  took  the  people  out  of  one  jof  his  gun 
vessels  which  sailed  worse  than  the  rest,  and  set  lier  on  fire. 
This,  however,  availed  them  but  little,  for,  at  sun-down,  three 
of  their  vessels  were  forced  to  strike  to  ihe  Pike,  and  soon  af- 
ter the  Sylph  captured  another.  A  fifth  ran  into  the  Ducks,  bm 
the  Sylph,  which  vas  left  to  watch  her,  took  possession  oi"  her 
early  next  morning.  A  small  schooner  was  the  only  vessel 
that  escapee',  owing  to  the  darkness  of  the  night. 

The  captured  vessels  were  found  to  be  gun-vessels,  wii!i 
troops  from  the  head  of  the  lake,  but  last  from  York,  bound  to 
Kingston.  Two  of  them  were  the  Julia  and  Growler,  which 
Chauncey  had  lost  in  the  action  of  the  9th  of  August.  The 
prisoners  taken  amounted  to  nearly  300,  principally  belonging 
to  the  De  Watteville,  a  German  regiment.  From  them  it  was 
learnt  that  the  British  fleet,  in  the  action  of  the  28th  of  Sep- 
tember, at  the  head  of  the  lake,  was  very  much  cut  up  in  their 
hulls  and  spars,  and  had  a  great  many  killed  and  wounded,  par- 
ticularly on  board  of  the  Wolfe  and  Royal  George. 

In  addition  to  the  army  in  Ohio,  and  that  on  the  Niagara  fron- 
tier, a  considerable  body  of  troops  was  collected  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1812,  upon  lake  Champlain;  a  number  of  vessels  also 
were  built  to  gain  the  command  of  those  waters.  In  the  cam- 
paign of  that  year,  however,  no  important  movement  was  made 
in  this  quarter.  Towards  the  end  of  May,  1813,  several  of  the 
British  gun-boats  having  crossed  the  lines,  for  the  purpose  of 
capturing  the  craft  upon  the  lake,  two  of  the  American  armed 
sloops,  the  Eagle  and  Growler,  sailed  from  Plattsburg  on  the 
2d  of  June  for  their  protection.  They  arrived  within  about  a 
mile  of  the  lines  about  dark,  where  they  cast  anchor  for  the 
night.  Next  morning,  about  day-break,  they  discovered  three 
British  gun-boats,  to  which  they  gave  chase,  but  the  wind  be- 
ing south,  they  unfortunately  ran  so  far  into  the  narrow  channel 
that  they  found  it  difficult  to  return,  and  the  Eagle,  not  being 
sufficiently  strong  for  her  weight  of  metal,  became  unmanagea- 
ble, and  at  last  went  down;  the  water,  however,  being  shoal, 
the  cre'v  were  saved.  The  Growler,  unwilling  to  abandon  hei 
companion,  continued  to  fight  until  after  the  Eagle  sunk,  when 
she  was  compelled  to  strike  to  superior  force.     The  enemy 


HISTORY   OF  THE   WAR. 


115 


l.ad  five  gun-))oats  m  the  action,  besides  a  considerable  force 
in  nnisquctiy  on  both  sides  of  the  channel,  which  was  so  nar^ 
nny  as  to  place  the  sloops  within  their  reaih  from  both  shores 
An  official  account  of  this  affair  has  not  been  published  but  h 
.s  stated   on  the  authority  of  the  enemv,  that  tLy  had  two  k  1 

i,  the  Americans  only  one,  but  a  considerable  numLr  of  the 
nilin^t.::  Ea7e'^^-     ^''^  ""''''''  ^^^-^'^^  — ^edt 

thJl^ke°on'tVe''ot^?'T^r'^"^  the  British  the  superiority  on 
the  lake,  on  the  oOth  of  July  a  considerable  force  crossed  the 
lines  m  forty-four  barj,.cs,  protected  by  the  Growl^i  and  FaJrP 

n  I  Mrar"¥Kn  ^  ^-r\""^' ^^'^^  co^mtn^oFtot: 
n  1  Tfl      ^;  followmg  day  they  appeared  off  Plattsburcr 

and  a  flag  ot  truce  was  sent  into  the  town  to  demand  its  surren' 
dcr,  with  the  assurance,  that  if  no  resistance  wTs  madeVp"  vate 
property  should  be  respected.  There  being  no Toops^n  the 
p.ace,  of  course  there  was  no  resistance,  and  the  enemv  landed 

'"U'arseti't"  '1"''T^'^'  -"-^^ing  of  a  blocSse,  bar 
.aeks,  aisenai,  &c.  when  they  again  embarked. 

On  the  2d  of  August  the  enemy  appeared  off  Burlineton  on 
he  o  her  side  of  the  lake,  where  the  American  am  y  was  sta 
uoncd  under  general  Hampton,  and  opened  their  SeVom  two 
>loops  and  a  galley,  which  was  returned  from  abattervTn  froT.? 
ol  the  town,  the  fire  from  which  soon  compelled  them^o^^X 
off.     Several  gun-boats  and  sloops  lay  under  the  batterv    h,it 

In  the  month  of  October,  Hampton's  army  crossed  the  htP 

.! rove   n  th.  2}  }}}\^^^\^^''m  nver,and  on  two  diff^e rent  days 

mm.    c      r  '  ''^  P^'^"'.''  ^""  °^  '^^'^^  '^^'y  succeeded  in 
captuung      Every  precaution  had  been  taken  by  the  enemv  In 

-  except  the  progress  of  the  army.  The  roads  were  filled  with 

c  -s,  which  they  had  previously  felled  .n  every  direction   the 

•  otMihstandmg  these  impediments,  however,  they  continued 

'nSo?  ''r^r  '^!  ''V''^  ^^^^^"  ^^-  advance7gu"7was 
attacked  on  bo  h  ddes  of  the  river  by  a  body  of  rcLnilars  iol 

k^'urs  and  Indians,  posted  in  strong  positions  in  a  woorflrkl 
^  by  the  river  and  impassable  swamps.    The  attack  w;ssev 

^l^'ortllelrnr'  ^^-, ---y.^!-ys  ^nven  behind  thdr 
M>.     Un  the  27th  nno  of  the  divisions  forded  the    ' 


^iioie  army  returned  within  the  A 


'••->,   niiu 


merican  lines  to  Four 


Ihe  IJritisIi  claimed  great  merit  from  the  splendid 


116 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAH. 


victory,  as  they  call  it,  which  they  assert  was  achieved  by  a, 
force  of  only  300  men,  against  Hampton's  whole  army,  which 
consisted  of  3000  or  3500.  From  their  own  statement,  however, 
it  would  appear  that  their  force  was  much  larger  than  they  re- 
present it.     They  state  it  to  have  consisted  of: — 

"  Captains  Lcvesque  and  Debartzcii,  with  their  flank  compa- 
nies of  the  5th  battalion  incorporated  militia,  together  with 
about  200  of  the  Beauharnois  division." 

"  Lieutenant-colonel  De  Salaberry,  with  his  voltigeurs,  and 
captain  Ferguson's  light  company  of  the  Canadian  regiment." 

Besides  these,  are  mentioned,  in  the  course  of  the  action:— 

«  A  large  body  of  Indians  under  captain  Lamothe." 

«  Lieutenant-colonel  M'Donnell,  of  the  Glengary  light  infan- 
try, with  a  part  of  his  light  brigade." 

These  forces  do  not  include  the  reinforcements  which  are 
stated  to  have  arrived  the  following  day.  And  yet  we  are  grave- 
ly told,  that,  "  though  it  may  appear  incredible,  the  whole  force 
engaged  on  our  side  did  not  exceed  300  men."* 

JBut  even  allowing  their  forces  to  be  as  small  as  here  repre- 
sented, it  by  no  means  follows,  either  that  a  victory  was  gained, 
or  that  Hampton's  measures  were  baflled.  It  does  not  appear 
that  it  was  the  intention  of  tne  American  general  to  push  on  by 
this  route  to  Montreal,  for  the  reduction  of  which  his  small 
for<ie  was  utterly  incompetent,  independent  of  the  natural  im- 
pediments which  this  part  of  the  country  presented  to  an  in- 
vading army.  There  is  no  reason  to  doubt,  indeed,  that  this 
movement  was  merely  intended  as  a  demonstration,  to  divert 
and  distract  the  attention  of  the  enemy  from  the  movements  on 
the  St.  Lawrence,  and  this  end  being  completely  attained,  it 
was  not  the  general's  intention  to  risk  the  loss  of  any  part, 
however  small,  of  his  army,  by  an  attempt  to  force  a  position  so 
strong  as  the  British  represent  this  to  have  been. 

General  Wilkinson  having  transported  his  army  in  safety 
from  Fort  George  to  Sackett's  Harbour,  in  the  beginning  ot 
October,  in  a  few  days  they  were  again  moved  to  Grenadier 
Island,  with  the  intention  of  immediately  proceeding  down  the 
St.  Lawrence  against  Montreal.  Considerable  delay,  however, 
took  place;  owing  to  the  uncommon  severity  of  the  weather,! 
and  it  was  not  until  the  3d  of  November  that  he  was  enabled  t'^ 
On  the  evening  of  the  6th  he  reached  Ogdensburrj 


move. 


-.'A 


*  The  statement  here  alluded  to  is  not  the  official  accounif^^ 
is  a  detailed  account^  afifiarently  written  by  an  officer  who^"^' 
f&eseut  at  the  affair. 


achieved  by  v, 
e  army,  which 
[lent,  however, 
r  than  they  re- 

r  flank  compa- 
together  with 

i^oltigeurs,  and 

lan  regiment." 

f  the  action:— 

)the." 

iry  light  infan- 

;nts  which  are 
t  we  are  grave- 
he  whole  force 

as  here  repre- 
)ry  was  gained, 
oes  not  appear 
il  to  push  on  by 
hich  his  small 
he  natural  im- 
ented  to  an  in- 
deed, that  this 
ition,  to  divert 
movements  on 
ely  attained,  it 
,s  of  any  part, 
ce  a  position  so 
n. 

irmy  in  safety 
je  beginning  oi 
I  to  Grenadier 
eding  down  the 
ielay,  however, 
of  the  weather,j 
was  enabled  iu 
d  Ogdensbur/1 


cial  account^  " 
officer  w/io^"'" 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


UT 


whence  he  wrote  to  general  Hampton  at  Four  Corners  Twher^ 
he  had  established  his  head-quarters  after  his  reU  m  frimCa' 
nada),  ordering  him  to  form  a  junction  with  him  on  thl  St 
Lawrence,  and  recommenaing  St.  Regis  as  the  mos    suitable 
place,  where  he  expected  to  be  on  the  cjth.     «  On  the  subject 
of  provisions, 'continues  Wilkinson,   «  I  wish  I  couJd'^rvea 
favourable  intormation;  our  whole  stock  of  bread  may  be  com 
puted  at  about  fifteen  days,  and  our  meat  at  twentrOn  speak-' 
mg  on  this  subject  t«  the  secretary  of  war,  he  informed  me  am 
pie  magazmes  were  laid  up  on  lake  Champlain,  and   hTrefoTe 
I  must  request  of  you  to  order  forward  two  or  three  month's 

o  ac  Ln'    Xxf"''  T''  'j  ^  '""^^^^"  ^°  ''''  P-poseTsce„e 
o  action.     1  have  submitted  the  state  of  provisions  to  my  gen- 

eral  officers,  who  unanimously  agree  that  it  should  not  prevent 
he  progress  of  the  expedition;  and  they  also  agree  in  oS 
ifyou  are  not  m  force  to  face  the  enemy,  you  should  mee^t  us  a 
!5t.  Regis  or  its  vicinity." 

thp\f7'^  distance  above  Ogdensburg,  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  St.  Lawijnce,  stands  Prcscot,  a  fortified  post  commanding 
w'li'^^'^'  T^^  lateness  of  the  season  not  admitting  of  delay, 
Wilkmson  determined  to  pass  It  in  the  night,  in  place  of  stopp- 
ing  to  reduce  It.  This  was  eftected  on  ^he  night  of  the  Jih, 
without  other  loss  than  two  privates  killed  and  three  wounded 
In  the  course  of  the  8th  the  cavalry  was  crossed  from  the 
American  to  the  Canada  shore,  and  a  detachment  of  the  infan- 
ly  was  landed,  to  prevent  the  enemy,  who  had  previously  lin- 
cd  the  shore  with  musquetry,  from  harassing  the  boats  in  their 

f-Z^f-     "T"  ^^'f  "^*^'-     -^  considerable  body  of  the  enemy 
Horn  Kmgston  also,  m  concert  with  a  heavy  galley  and  a  few 

br^e^n^H'!;?.^-""  '^^  ''"'  ^^''^^  Americans,  and  considera- 
bly  retarded  their  progress. 

On  the  morning  of  the  10th,  general  Brown  adva^nced  down 
mLr.    ''  purpose  of  clearing  its  banks,  as  a  rapid,  eight 

mi  es  long,  was  expected  to  be  passed  in  the  course  of  the  day, 

wr.  IH  f '^l  ""^  ""^^^Z''  '^"^°"'  '^''^  precaution,  the  army 
would  be  much  exposed.     About  noon,  the  army  wL  apprized 

Zt,  '?''''  «f  ^^tMie^T>  that  Brown  was  engaged  some  dis- 
eHnH  •''''''  and  about  the  same  time  the  enemy  were  observ- 
ed H  ^fl^V-.f  ^''  7^^'"*  §^^"^y  ^"^  gun-boats  having  approach- 
ed the  flotilla,  and  opened  their  fire,  Wilkinson  ordered  a  bat- 
tery  ot  eighteen  pounders  to  be  planted,  the  shot  from  which 

boon  compelled  the  vessels  of  the  enemv  tn  t>^f\^^  ♦^^^^u :.u 

their  troops,  after  some  firing  between  the  advanced^Vrties!""' 

enw^K  ^  "^-I  """^Z*!  ^^^  'P^''^'  ^^^^  ^^^e  pilots  did  not  dare  to 
enter  the  rapid,  and  therefore  the  flotilla  fell  down  about  two 


118 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


miles,  and  came  to  for  the  night.     Early  next  morning  every 
thing  was  ready  to  move,  but  it  was  still  deemed  imprudent  to 
conimit  the  flotilla  to  the  rapid  until  the  result  of  gen.  Brown's 
affair  should  be  ascertained.     At  half  past  10,  an  officer  arrived 
with  information  that  Brown  had  forced  the  enemy  to  retire 
and  that  he  would  reach  the  foot  of  the  rapid  early  in  the  day! 
Orders  were  now  given  for  the  flotilla  to  sail;  but  at  this  mo- 
ment the  enemy's  gun-boats  appeared  and  began  to  fire,  and  hi- 
formation  was  received  from  general  Boyd,  that  the  enemy's 
troops  were  advancing  in  column,  on  which  Wilkinson  sent  him 
orders  tc  attack  them.    This  report  was  soon  contradicted;  but 
their  gun-boats  continued  to  annoy  the  flotilla,  and  such  a  va- 
riety of  reports  of  the  movements  and  counter-movements  of 
the  troops  on  shore  was  brought  to  Wilkinson,  as  convinced  him 
of  their  determination  to  hazard  an  attack,  when  it  could  be  done 
to  advantage.     He  therefore  resolved  to  anticipate  them ;  and 
directions  were  accordingly  sent  to  general  Boyd  to  throw  the 
detachments  under  his  command  into  three  columns,  to  march 
^pon  the  enemy,  outflank  them  if  possible,  and  take  their  artil- 
lery.     The  force  under  Boyd  consisted  of  detachments  from 
the  first,  third,  and  fourth  brigades,  which  were  formed  agree- 
ably to  orders,  and  placed  respectively  under  colonel  Coles, 
general  Covington,  and  gener;|l  Swartwout.  A  report  was  now 
brought  to  Boyd  fi'om  the  rear  guard,  that  a  body  of  about  200 
British  and  Indians  had  advanced  into  the  woods  that  skirted  his 
rear.     General  Swartwout,  with  the  fourth  brigade,  was  imme- 
diately ordered  to  dislodge  them;  general  Covington,  with  the 
third  brigade,  being  at  the  same  time  directed  to  be  within  sup- 
porting distance.     General  Swartwout  dashed  into  the  woods, 
and  with  the  21st  infantry  (a  part  of  his  brigade),  after  a  short 
skirmish,  drove  them  back  to  the  position  of  their  main  body. 
Here  he  was  joined  by  general  Covington.  The  enemy  had  ju- 
diciously chosen  his  ground  among  the  deep  ravines  which 
every  where  intersected  the  extensiye  plain,  and  discharged  a 
heavy  and  galling  fire  upon  the  advanced  columns  of  the  Ame- 
ricans.    No  opposition  or  obstacle,  however,  checked  their  ar- 
dour. The  enemy  retired  for  more  than  a  mile  before  their  re- 
solute and  repeated  charges.     During  this  time,  the  detach- 
ment ot  the  first  brigade  under  colonel  Coles,  whose  greater 
distance  from  the  scene  of  action  retarded  its  arrival,  rapidly  en- 
tered the  field.  Being  directed  to  attack  the  enemy's  left  flank, 
this  movement  was  promptly  and  bravely  executed,  amid  a 
shower  of  musquetry  and  sharpnel  shells.     The  fight  now  be- 
came more  stationary,  until  the  brigade  first  engaged,  having 
expended  all  their  ammunition,  were  directed  to  retire  to  a 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


U« 


ung  every 
prudent  to 
n.  Brown's 
:er  arrived 
r  to  retire, 
n  the  day. 
It  this  mo- 
ire, and  in- 
e  enemy's 
>n  sent  him 
dieted;  but 
such  a  va- 
/ements  of 
winced  him 
lid  be  done 
:hem;  and 
throw  the 
i,  to  march 
their  artil- 
ents  from 
led  agree- 
nel  Coles, 
t  was  now 
about  200 
skirted  his 
vas  imme- 
I,  with  the 
i'ithin  sup- 
he  woods, 
ter  a  short 
nain  body, 
ny  had  Ju- 
nes which 
charged  a 
the  Ame- 
d  their  ar- 
e  their  re- 
le  detach- 
je  greater 
•apidly  en- 
left  flank, 
d,  amid  a 
:  now  be- 
d,  having 
■etire  to  a 


more  defensible  position  to  wait  for  a  re-supply.  This  move- 
ment  so  disconnected  the  line,  as  to  reader  it  expedient  f^rthe 
ijrst  brigade  likewise  to  retire. 

The  artillery,  excepting  two  pieces  attached  to  the  rear  divi- 
sion  (which  from  the  nature  of  the  ground,  and  the  circuitous 
route  they  had  to  take,  were  likewise  much  retarded  in  thdr  ar' 
nval),did  not  reach  the  ground  until  the  line,  for  want  of  ai- 
muniuon  had  already  begun  to  fall  back.  When  the^were  ;?. 
ranged,  their  fire  was  sure  and  destructive.  When  the  artillery 
was  filially  directed  to  retire,  having  to  cross  a  deep,  ^d  ex- 
cepting in  one  place,  to  artillery,  impassable  ravine,  one  piece 
yas  unfortunately  lost,  by  the  fall  of  its  gallant  cimmaSder 
lieutenant  Smith,  and  most  of  his  men.  ""imanaer, 

The  whole  line  was  now  re-formed  on  the  borders  of  those 
Moods  from  which  the  enemy  had  first  been  driven;  when  nie-ht 
coming  on,  and  the  storm  returning,  Boyd,  conce  vTng   he^b 
jec  in  view,  which  was  to  beat  back  \he  enemy  thirwould  rl 
tard  the  junction  with  the  main  body  below,  to  have  been  ac 

fl3' wK- '  u'^""'^^  '^^  ^'°°P'  ^°  •"^^"^"  t°  '^^  g^o'^nd  near  the 
MotilJa,  which  movement  was  executed  in  good  order,  and  with- 
out molestation  from  the  enemy.  '  ^ 

thp'V^-^tK^"'^'''^"  ^'"'^  "'  ^^'^  ^^^»^"'  whi<^h  took  place  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  Williamsburgh,  consisted  of  indefiniJc 
detachments  taken  from  the  boats,  it  is  impossible  to  say  with 

ed  toT/  K^"'.  T^'  '^^  '^""^^"^  ^^  '^^  ^'^^>  ^"t  it  was  sup^s- 
ed  to  be  about  1600  or  1700  men.     The  force  of  the  enemv 

BHtkf  ""^If  -'  ^'°"'  *  ^??  '^  ^°^^'  exclusive  of  militia.  The 
British  say  their  force  did  not  exceed  800  rank  and  file,  in 

tded'^'lT^A  '^^•'"^•^^^^  and  Indians  are  probabfy  not  in- 
cluded.    The  Americans  had   102  killed,  and   237  wounded 
^mong  the  latter  general  Covington  mortally.     The  British 

Bohnl?;  '"1  •'  'l'^^"^^'  147  wounded,  and  12  missing!! 
iloth  parties  claim  the  victory  in  this  battle:  the  British,  be- 
cause they  aptured  a  piece  of  cannon,  and  because  the  Ame- 
ncans  retired  from  the  battle  ground;  the  Americans,  be- 
cause their  object  was  fully  attained,  that  of  beating  back  the 

riTp^^^'T^  R^'v  u^'^''^''^'  tl^^"^  i»  their  progress  down  the 
loor;,.;  ^^''^^"t.^s^.^^icount  states  that  they  took  upwards  of 
100  pr  soners,  of  which  no  mention  is  made  by  the  Americans. 
At  the  time  ol  this  action  general  Wilkhison  was  confined  to 
whVh  k'  emaciated  almost  to  a  skeleton,  a  disease  with 

o  Fo^t  r  ""'^^  ^T^^'^  ^"  '^^  H  ^^  September,  on  his  journey 
lo  fort  Ueorere.  havinji-.  ivith  n  f^xx,  cK«„f  ;,,*„,.,., i_  „r     ••       ,    ^ 

Cv.pce,  preyed  on  him  ever  since. 
The  Americans  having  resumed  theii-  position  on  the  banks 


120 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


L_, 


of  ;he  St.  Lawrence,  the  infantry,  being  much  fatigued,  were 
ic-enibarked,  and  proceeded  down  the  river,  without  further 
annoyance  from  the  enemy  or  their  gun-boats,  while  the  dra- 
goons, with  five  pieces  of  light  artillery,  marched  down  the 
Canada  shore  without  molestation.  The  next  morning  the 
flotilla  passed  safely  down  the  rapids,  and  joined  general 
Brown,  at  Barnhart's  near  Cornwall^  wl^ere  he  had  been  in- 
structed to  take  post  and  wait  their  arrival 

At  Bai-nhart's  Wilkinson  confidently  ex^-^cted  to  have  heard 
of  Hampton's  arrival  on  the  opposite  shore,  but,  immediately 
on  his  halting,  colonel  Atkinson  waited  on  him  with  a  letter 
from  that  officer,  in  which,  to  the  surprise  and  mortification  of 
Wilkinson,  Hampton  declined  the  junction,  and  informed  him 
^jj  that  he  was  marching  towards  lake  Ciiumplain,  by  way  of  co- 
operating in  the  proposed  attack  on  Montreal.  The  reason  as- 
signed by  Hampton  for  this  measure,  was  the  smailncss  of 
Wilkinson's  stock  of  provisions,  and  the  impossibility,  from 
the  difficulty  of  transportation  at  this  season,  of  his  bringing 
more  than  each  man  could  have  carried  on  his  back.  "When 
I  reflected,"  says  Hampton,  « that  in  throwing  myself  upon 
your  scanty  means,  I  should  be  weakening  you  in  your  most 
vulnerable  point,  I  did  not  hesitate  to  adopt  the  opinion,  after 
consulting  the  general  and  principal  officers,  that  by  throwing' 
myself  back  on  my  main  depot,  when  all  the  means  of  trans- 
portation had  gone,  and  falling  upon  the  enemy's  flank,  and 
straining  every  effort  to  open  a  communication  from  Platts- 
burg  to  Coghnawaga,  or  any  other  point  you  may  indicate  on 
the  St.  Lawrence,  I  should  more  effectually  contribute  to  your 
success,  than  by  the  junctioft  at  St.  Regis.  The  way  is  in  ma- 
liy  places  blockaded  and  abated,  and  the  road  impracticable 
for  wheel  carriages  during  winter — but  by  the  employment  of 
pack  horses,  if  I  am  not  overpowered,  I  hope  to  be  able  to  pre- 
vent your  starving.  I  have  ascertained  and  witnessed  that  the 
plan  of  the  enemy  is  to  burn  and  consume  every  thing  ui  our 
advance.  My  troops  and  other  means  will  be  described  to  you 
by  colonel  Atkinson.  Besides  the  rawness  and  sickness,  they 
have  endured  fatigues  equal  to  a  winter  campaign,  in  the  late 
snows  and  bad  weather,  and  are  sadly  dispirited  and  fallen  oft"; 
but  upon  this  subject  I  must  refer  you  to  colonel  Atkinson. 
With  these  means — what  can  be  accomplished  by  human  ex- 
ertion,.! will  attempt — with,  a  mind  devoted  to  the  general  ob- 
jects of  the  campaign." 

Hampton's  letter  was  immediately  submitted  to  a  council  of 
war,  composed  of  the  general  officers  and  the  colonel  com- 
manding the  elite,  the  chief  engineer,  and  the  adjutant-gene- 


ucd,  were 
ut  further 
e  the  dra- 
down  the 
rning  the 
i  general 
I  been  in- 

lavc  heard 
mediately 
ih  a  letter 
fication  of 
rmed  him 
(-ay  of  co- 
reason  as- 
ailncss  of 
lity,  from 
bringing 
"  When 
self  upon 
>^our  most 
lion,  after 
throwing* 
of  trans- 
Bank,  and 
m  Platts- 
idicate  on 
ite  to  your 
'  is  in  ma- 
racticable 
oyment  of 
ale  to  pre- 
;d  that  the 
ing  in  our 
3ed  to  you 
ness,  they 
ii  the  late 
fallen  off; 
Atkinson, 
uman  ex- 
jneral  ob- 

council  of 
:)nel  coni- 
;ant-|jenc- 


mSTOUY   OF  THE  M'Att.  \->i 

ral,  who  unanimously  gave  it  as  their  opinion,  that «  the  attack 
on  Montreal  should  be  abandoned  for  the  present  season  »nH 
the  arn,y  near  Cornwall  should  be  i.nmediLely  crossed  ^  the 

&  wa  'acnu  esS Tn  C^vuj"'  '""■  "?"'""     ™' 
tic  wanfnf«n„..:  •         .       5^  Wilknison,  not,  he  states,  from 

y,  hive  Uved  o^  t'h^'    "'"f  "''=>'  ™"'''' '"  "»<=  of  cxtrerai- 
sio,  fmH.l  tl";  enemy,  but  because  the  loss  of  the  divi- 

t^  justifyU.rremp""'"'"''"  ^'=^'''-<'  '-  '•--  '-  --^% 

witi'out\Tein'^?h'i""'  ""  'h^Canada  shore  until  the  next  day, 
t„  »^  „         ^         '""""y'  ^""l  ^'"">  crossed  over  and  went  in- 

"en'^^Lor Sa"-™*^-  ""'^'  ''"^^  ^'^  ^^^'^'  °"  ^ -="- 

-itl.'two?lfi:",^''"  "T""^  ''""S  embarked  at  Detroit. 
Id    „,  ?.  I  ""P^  "'''°'*=  '''™  °f  service  had  not  exnir- 

!e  cou  t  "vhe^'haS'"  »"-'-'"  "-essary  for  the  deSof 
end  of  October  .„,.         "!,"'  T"™''  ^'  »««'''l™  «««""-ds  the 
(General  Wilkfi^rn"'''''"^'?'  P-'o'^'^eded  to  Fort  George.- 
tie  flee   no   hi     '    ''".'"S  P^viously  gone  down  the  lakeland 
t  Mnsanl^'""'?''"'"''  '^''  ""=  "•'insportation  of  Harrison's 

^:r:l^XSS:Z^'^^  aeTdTnake  OntX:  ' 

?ormorre  cVaunrr    "'■  "'^  '''''■'"'™  "fSackett's  Harbour^ 
vessels  was  very  ZteronlTfh-  navigation  with  small 

General  the-fn.r'  "'^^^''  ^"  ^"^^«»^'y  endangered.     The 

George",  unit ^ eS  mII"^ '  "^■"""IJ''  ,*""=  ^•"•^  ="  ^ort 
of  militia  Jd  foTuntee?s  who';  't^rm  of  '""• "  "^'"'"ely 
point  of  exDirinir  Tvl'L,.  ■  i^  "^  ^""'"'^  ™s  on  the 
lin,.ton  H^?~K.-     '^™'""''"P'^-"=''  expedition  against  Bur. 


i 


HISTORY   or  THE  WAR. 


I: 


The  abandonment  of  this  expedition  excited  much  dissati^> 
faction  at  Fort  George,  especially  among  the  volunteers,  many 
of  whom  had  made  considerable  sacrifices  to  join  the  army,  in 
^le  hope  of  being  usefully  and  actively  employed.  Their  term 
of  service  now  expiring,  M'Clure  used  every  eflbrt  to  engage 
them  to  remain  for  one  or  two  months  longer,  but  in  vain.  He 
was  left  on  the  10th  of  December  with  not  more  than  sixty  ef- 
fective regulars  to  garrison  Fort  George.  A  council  of  officers 
was  then  held,  who  were  unanimously  of  opinion  tliat  the  fort 
should  be  immediately  evacuated,  the  advance  of  the  enemy, 
who  by  some  means  had  obtained  information  of  the  state  of  the 
place,  being  within  eight  miles.  Orders  were  accordingly  ^iven 
to  transport  all  the  arms,  ammunition,  and  public  stores  of  eve- 
ry description  across  the  river,  which  was  principally  effected 
though  the  enemy  approached  so  rapidly  that  ten  of  the  soldiers 
were  made  prisoners.  The  fort  was  blown  up,  and  the  town  of 
Newark,  a  handsome  little  place  of  about  200  houses,  situated 
a  mile  below  the  fort,  was  laid  in  ashes.  "  This  act,"  general 
M'Clure  declares,  «  as  distressing  to  the  inhabitants  as  to  my 
feelings,  was  by  an  order  of  the  secretary  at  war."  "  The  in- 
habitants had  twelve  hours  notice  to  remove  their  effects,  and 
such  as  chose  to  come  across  the  river  were  provided  with  all 
the  necessaries  of  life."  The  only  reason  that  we  have  i,cen 
assigned  for  this  outrage  is  by  no  means  satisfactory:  «  that  the 
enemy  might  not  have  it  in  their  power  to  quarter  with  their 
Indian  allies  in  the  village,  snd  maraud  and  murder  our  citi- 
zens," and  we  are  much  pleased  to  see  that  the  act  is  almost 
universally  disapproved  of. 

On  the  19th  of  December  about  4  in  th*"  morning,  the  British 
crossed  the  river  a  few  miles  above  X^ort  Niagara,  and  succeed- 
ed in  taking  the  place  by  storm  about  an  hour  before  daybreak. 
The  fort  appears  to  have  been  completely  surprised.  The  men 
were  nearly  all  asleep  in  their  tents,  when  the  enemy  rushed  in 
and  commenced  a  dreadful  slaughter.  Such  as  escaped  the 
fury  of  the  first  onset,  retired  to  the  old  mess-house,  where  they 
kept  up  a  fire  on  the  enemy,  until  a  want  of  ammunition  com- 
pelled them  to  surrender.  The  disaster  is  attributed  and  with 
too  much  appearance  of  probability,  to  gross  neglect  or  trea- 
sonable connivance  on  the  part  of  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
fort,  who  is  stated  to  have  been  absent  at  the  time  it  took  place, 
notwithstanding  the  attack  was  expected,  as  appears  from  the 
general  orders  issued  by  M'Clure  a  few  days  previous. 

After  the  capture  of  the  fort,  the  British  with  a  large  body 
of  Indians,  proceeded  up  the  river  as  far  as  Lewistown,  and, 
having  driven  off  a  detachment  of  militia  stationed  at  Lewis- 


HiSTpRT  OF  THE  WAR. 


123 


:h  dissatis- 
eers,  many 
le  army,  in 
rheir  lenn 
to  engage 

vain.  He 
n  sixty  cf- 

of  officers 
lat  the  fort 
he  enemy, 
state  of  the 
ingly  given 
res  of  eve- 
ly  effected 
he  soldiers 
;he  town  of 
IS,  situated 
,"  general 
s  as  to  my 

«  The  in- 
ffects,  and 
id  with  all 

have  occn 
:  «  that  the 
with  their 
r  our  citi- 
t  is  almost 

the  British 
d  succeed- 

daybreak. 
.  The  men 
J  nished  in 
scaped  the 
vhere  they 
ition  com- 
d  and  with 
ct  or  trca- 
ficerof  the 
took  place, 
s  from  the 
js. 

large  body 
town,  and, 

at  Lewis- 


town  Heights,  burnt  that  village  and  those  of  Youngstown  and 
Manchester,  and  the  Indian  Tuscarora  village.  A  number  of 
the  inoffensive  inhabitants  are  said  to  have  been  butchered  by  the 
savages.  On  the  30th  another  detacHnnent  of  the  British  and  In- 
dians crossed  the  Niagara,  near  Black  Rock.  They  were  met 
by  the  militia  under  general  Hall;  but,  overpowered  by  num- 
bers, and  the  discipline  of  the  enemy,  the  militia  soon  gave  way 
and  fled  on  every  side,  and  every  attempt  to  rally  them  was 
meflectual.  The  enemy  then  set  fire  to  Black  Rock,  when  they 
proceeded  to  Buffaloe,  which  they  likewise  laid  in  ashes,  thus 
completing  the  desolation  of  the  whole  of  the  Niagara  fron- 
tier,  as  a  retaliation  for  the  burning  of  Newark 

Serious  apprehensions  were  entertained  for  the  safety  of  the 
fleet  at  Erie;  the  enemy,  however,  did  not  attempt  to  penetrate 
turther  at  the  moment,  and  a  sufficient  force  was  soon  collect- 
ed for  its  defence,  which  remained  durhig  the  winter. 

While  active  operations  were  thus  carried  on,  on  the  north 
and  northwestern  frontier  of  the  United  States,  the  calamities 
of  war  began  to  extend  to  the  southern  portion.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  1813  the  Creek  nation  commenced  hostilities  by  an  at- 
tack on  Fort  Mims,  a  post  upon  the  Tensaw  river.  Before  we 
enter  on  a  narrative  of  the  events  of  this  war,  however,  it  will 
be  proper  to  notice  another  important  event  which  took  place 
in  this  quarter,  in  the  month  of  April;  namely,  the  surrender  ol*" 
Mobile  to  the  arms  of  the  United  States. 

By  the  treaty  of  St.  Ildefonso,  concluded  on  the  1st  of  Octo- 
ber, 1800,  between  France  and  Spain,  the  latter,  in  consi- 
deration of  certain  stipulations  in  favour  of  the  duke  of  Par- 
ma, ceded  to  the  French  republic  « the  colony  or  province 
of  Louisiana,  with  the  same  extent  that  it  now  has  in  the 
hands  of  Spain,  and  that  it  had  when  France  possessed  it- 
and  such  as  it  should  be  after  the  treaties  subsequently  enter' 
cd  into  between  Spain  and  other  states."  By  a  treaty  con- 
cluded at  Paris,  on  the  30th  of  April,  1803,  France  ceded 
to  the  United  States  the  territory  she  had  acquired  by  the 
treaty  of  St.  Ildefonso,  «  as  fully  and  in  the  same  manney 
as  they  have  been  acquired  by  the  French  republic."  In 
virtue  of  the  above-mentioned  treaties,  the  United  States 
claimed  as  the  southern  portion  of  Louisiana,  all -the  country 
lying  between,  the  Sabine  and  Perdido  rivers.  The  Spanish 
government,  however,  resisted  this  claim,  and  contended  that 
Its  eastern  boundary  was  the  river  Mississippi,  and  the  lakes 
iviaurepas  and  Pontchartrain.  This  country"  has.  accordingly 
been  the  subject  of  negociation  for  several  years,  between  the 
American  and  Spanish  governments,  the  latter  still  holding 


124 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


possession  of  the  country.  This  negociation  was  put  an  end 
to  by  the  troubles  which  tQok  place  in  old  Spain,  hi  1807;  and 
a  revolution  breaking  out  in  Florida,  the  United  States,  on  the 
ground  that  Spain  could  no  longer  hold  possession  of  the  coun- 
try, and  that  her  rights  would  be  jeopardized  or  lost  by  sufler- 
mg  it  to  pass  into  the  hands  of  a  third  party  (the  revolution- 
ists), on  whom  they  could  have  no  claim,  took  possession  of 
the  whole  disputed  country,  in  1812,  except  the  post  of  Mobile, 
a  small  fortified  town  of  about  400  inhabitants,  situated  on  the 
west  side  of  Mobile  bay,  which  continued  to  be  held  by  a 
Spanish  garrison  until  the  15th  of  April,  1813,  when  it  was 
summoned  to  surrender  to  the  arms  of  the  United  States,  un- 
der general  Wilkinson,  which  was  immediately  done  without 
the  slightest  opposition. 

^  The  countiy  of  the  Creek  Indians,  with  whom  the  United 

States  was  at  war,  is  situated  in  the  western  part  of  the  state 

of  Georgia,  and  the  eastern  part  of  the  Mississippi  territory, 

between  the   Oakmulgee  and  Tombigbee  rivers;  and  extends 

from  the  Cherokee  country,  which  borders  on  Tennesse,  to 

Florida.     In  the  course  of  the  last  summer,  several  families 

were  murdered,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio  river,  by  a  party 

of  Indians  passing  from  the  great  lakes  to  the  Upper  Creeks. 

The  principal  chiefs  of  the  nation,  on  the  application  of  the 

United  States,  agent,  determined  to  punish  the  murderers  by 

putting  them  to  death,  and  a  party  of  warriors  was  appointed 

to  execute  their  determination.     This  was  no  sooner  done, 

than  the  resentment  of  the  friends  of  the  murderers  broke  out 

in  acts  of  open  violence  against  all  who  had  been  in  .any  way 

concerned  in  causing  the  murderers  to  be  put  to  death,  and  a 

civil  war  was  the  consequence.     It  appears,  however,  that 

this  circumstance  only  produced  a  premature  disclosure  of 

their  object,  as  it  has  since  been  ascertained  that  most  of  the 

Upper  Creeks  had  previously  determined  to  take  part  with  the 

jiorthern  Indians  in  their  war  Niith  the  United  States. 

About  the  middle  of  July,  the  secretary  at  war  wrote  to 
the  governor  of  Georgia;  and  at  the  sam.e  time  transmitted  a 
copy  of  his  letter  to  the  governor  of  Tennessee;  stating,  that 
information  through  various  channels  had  reached  the  general 
government,  of  the  hostility  of  a  portion  of  the  Creek  nation, 
and  of  the  necessity  of  breaking  it  down  by  some  prompt  and 
vigorous  nieasures;  and  suggested  the  propriety  of  embody- 

— o   -  r -•   -"•  "'^-iQio.  iiuiiiiu,  WHO  snouiu  eimer  act 

separately  against  the  enemy,  or  in  concert  witli  another  corps 
of  mihtia,  drawn  from  Tennessee.  This  letter  was  recei'^ed 
by  governor  Mitchell  in  the  end  of  July,  when  he  immediately 


•  put  an  end 
in  1807;  and 
tates,  on  the 
of  the  coun- 
)stby  sufler- 
revolution- 
jossession  of 
it  of  Mobile, 
Liated  on  the 
3  held  by  a 
»vhen  it  was 
I  States,  un- 
one  without 

the  United  ■ 
of  the  state  , 
pi  territory, 
and  extends 
ennesse,  to 
5ral  families 
',  by  a  party 
per  Creeks, 
ation  of  the 
urderers  by 
3  appointed 
3oner  done, 
s  broke  out 
in  .any  way 
eath,  and  a 
ivever,  that 
sclosure  of 
Host  of  the 
irt  with  the 

!S. 

ir  wrote  to 
insmitted  a 
tating,  that 
the  general 
sek  nation, 
jrompt  and 
•f  embody- 
either  act 
)ther  corps 
L8  recei'ied 
amediately 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


125 


took  measures  for  calling  out  fifteen  hundred  of  the  Georgia 
militia,  who  were  soon  after  marched  to  the  Oakmulgee 
river.  Their  number  was  subsequently  enlarged  to  a  full 
brigade. 

Meanwhile  appearances  became  every  day  more  threatening. 
The  friendly  Indians  were  forced  to  leave  their  towns  and 
retreat  towards  the  white  settlements,  and  fortify  themselves 
against  the  attacks  of  the  war  party.  The  latter  proceeded  in 
great  numbers  to  the  south,  where  it  is  ass^^-rted  they  were 
supplied  by  the  Spanish  governor  of  Pensacola  with  arms 
and  ammunition.  At  last,  upon  the  30th  of  August,  1813  they 
commenced  hostilities  against  the  United  States,  by  an  attack 
upon  Mim's  fort,  on  the  Ten&aw,  a  branch  of  the  Mobile 
river,  in  the  Mississippi  territory,  commanded  by  major  Beas- 
ley. 

Information  had  been  received  about  a  week  previous,  that 
a  large  number  of  Indians  were  approaching  with  hostile  in- 
tentions, but  the  attack  was  wholly  unexpected  at  the  moment 
it  occurred,  which  Was  about  eleven  in  the  forenoon.  The 
whole  garrison,  however,  was  immediately  under  arms.  The 
front  gate  l^eing  open,  the  enemy  ran  in  great  numbers  to  pos- 
sess themselves  of  it,  and  in  the  contest  for  it  many  fell  on 
both  sides.  Soon  however,  the  action  became  general,  the 
enemy  fighting  on  all  sides  in  the  open  field,  and  as  near  the 
stockade  as  they  could  get.  The  port-holes  were  taken  and 
retaken  several  times.  A  block-house  was  contended  for  by 
captain  Jack,  at  the  head  of  his  riflemen,  for  the  space  of  an 
hour  after  the  enemy  were  in  possession  of  part  of  it;  when 
thej  finally  succeeded  in  driving  his  company  into  a  house  in 
the  fort,  and,  having  stopped  many  of  the  port-holes  with  the 
ends  of  rails,  possessed  themselves  of  the  walls.  The  troops 
made  a  most  gallant  defence  from  the  houses,  but.  the  enemy 
having  set  fire  to  the  roofs,  and  the  attempt  to  extinguish  it 
proving  unsuccessful,  the  few  who  now  remained  alive  at- 
tempted a  retreat,  having  previously  thrown  into  the  flames 
many  of  the  guns  of  the  dead.  Few,  however,  succeeded  in 
escaping.  Major  Beasley  fell  gallantly  fighting  at  the  head  of 
his  command,  near  the  gate,  at  the  commencement  of  the  ac- 
tion. The  other  officers  fell  nobly  doing  their  duty;  the  non- 
commissioned officers  and  soldiers  behaved  equally  well. 

The  loss  of  the  Americans  was  great:  sixty-five,  including 
officers  and  men,  of  the  Mississippi  territory  volunteers,  and 
!.^»..!.ij.-^^\^ji  v^jiutiteei  iiiiuau,,  were  Kiiica.  iviany  respect- 
able citizens,  with  numerous  families,  who  had  abandoned 
their  farms,  and  fled  to  the  fort  for  security,  were  alsc  killed. 


126 


HISTORY    OF  THE  WAR. 


>      4 

'  ■  'SI 
t    ■ 

'A 


or  burnt  in  the  houses  into  which  they  fled  A  detachment 
which  was  sent  from  caiitonement  Mount  Vernon,  on  the  21st 
of  September,  to  collect  the  bones  of  their  countrymen,  col- 
lecte(\  and  consigned  to  the  earth,  247  persons,  including  men, 
women,  and  children.  The  detachment  likewise  searched  the 
woods  for  bodies,  where  they  found  at  least  100  dead  Indians, 
who  were  covered  with  rails,  brush,  &c.  These  Indians  had 
been  interred  with  their  war-dresses  and  implements,  by  which 
they  were  recognized. 

On  the  receipt  of  the  disastrous  intelligence  of  the  destruc- 
tion of  major  Beasley's  garrison,  preparations  were  immediate- 
ly made  for  collecting  a  large  force  of  Tennessee  militia,  and 
providing  supplies  for  those  of  Georgia,  which  had  already 
assembled.     The  Tennessee  militia  were  marched  in  two  di- 
visions, under  the  orders  of  major-generals  Jackson  and  Cocke. 
On  the  2d  of  November,  major-general  Jackson  dispatched 
brigadier-general  Coffee  from  the  camp  at  Ten-Islands,  with 
900  men,  consisting  of  cavalry  and  mounted  riflemen,  on  an 
expedition  against  Tallushatches  towns,  where  a  considerable 
force  of  the  Creeks  was  concentrated.     Coffee  arrived  within 
a  mile  and  a  half  of  the  town  on  the  morning  of  the  3d,  where 
he  divided  his  force  into  two  divisions,  and  directed  them  to 
march  so  as  completely  i^  encircle  the  town,  which  was  effect- 
ed in  a  masterly  manner.     When  they  arrived  within  about 
half  a  mile  of  the  towns,  the  enemy  began  to  prepare  for  action, 
which  was  announced  by  the  beating  of  their  drums,  mingled 
with  savage  yells.     About  an  hour  after  sun-rise  the  action 
was  brought  on  by  two  companies,  who  had  gone  within  the 
circle  of  alignment,  for  the  purpose  of  drawing  the  enemy  out 
from  their  buildings.     As  soon  as  the  two  companies  exhibted 
their  front  in  view  of  the  town,  and  gave  a  few  scattering  sliot, 
the  enemy  formed  and  made  a  violent  charge  upon  them,  on 
which  they  gave  way,  and  were  followed  by  the  Indians,  until 
they  reached  the  main  body,  who  immediately  opened  a  gene- 
ral fire,  and  then  charged.     The  Indians  now,  in  their  turn, 
retreated  firing,  until  they  got  around  and  in  their  buildings, 
when  they  made  a  most  determined  resistance,  fighting  to  the 
very  last  moment,  as  long  as  they  could  stand  or  sit,  not  one 
shrinking  or  complaining;  not  one  asking  for  quarter.     Every 
warrior  in  the  town  was  killed,  and  all  the  women  and  children 
were  taken  prisoners,  except  a  few  who  were  unintentionally 
slain,  in  consequence  of  the  men  flying  to  the  houses  and 
mixing  with  their  families,  and  at  the   same  time  refusing 
quarter. 

The  number  found  killed  of  the  eincmy  was  M6,  &nd  a  num- 


HISTOHY  OF  THE  WAR. 


127 


detachment 
,  on  the  2 1  st 
trymen,  col- 
;luding  men, 
searched  the 
lead  Indians, 

Indians  had 
Its,  by  which 

the  destruc- 
;  immediate- 
;  militia,  and 
had  ah'eady 
d  in  two  di- 
1  and  Cocke.  ' 

• 

1  dispatched 
Islands,  with 
smen,  on  an 
considerable 
rived  within 
le  3d,  where 
ted  them  to 
1  was  effect- 
vithin  about 
•e  for  action, 
tis,  mingled 
e  the  action 
5  within  the 
!  enemy  out 
ics  exhibted 
ttering  siiot, 
)n  them,  on 
ndians,  until 
ned  a  genc- 
their  turn, 
r  buildings, 
hting  to  the 
sit,  not  one 
ter.  Every 
md  children 
ntentionally 
houses  and 
no  rciusiiig 

&nd  a  num- 


ber of  others  were  killed  in  the  woods,  who  were  not  found 
J  he  number  of  women  and  children  taken  was  eighty- 
iour  Of  the  Americans,  five  were  killed,  and  forty-one  wound- 
ed, the  greater  part  slightly,  none  mortally;  two  of  the  killed 
were  with  arrows,  which  appeared  to  form  a  principal  part  of 
the  arms  of  the  Indians  on  this  occasion,  every  man  having  a 
bow,  with  a  bundle  of  arrows,  which  he  used  after  the  first  fire 
with  his  gun,  until  a  leisure  time  for  loading  offered. 

Coffee  bestows  much  praise  on  his  men,  for  their  delibera- 
tion  and  firmness.  «  Notwithstanding  our  numbers,"  says  he, 
"  were  far  superior  to  that  of  the  enemy,  it  was  a  circumstance 
to  us  unknown,  and  from  the  parade  of  the  enemy  we  had 
every  reason  to  suppose  them  our  equals  in  number;  but  there 
appeared  no  visible  traces  of  alarm  in  any;  on  the  contrary, 
I  all  appeared  cool  and  determined;  and,  no  doubt,  when  they 
tace  a  foe  of  their  own,  or  superior  number,  they  will  show 
the  same  courage  as  on  this  occasion." 

The  following  day  general  Coffee  returned  with  his  detach- 
ment to  the  camp. 

Late  on  the  evening  of  the  7th  a  friendly  Indian  arrived  at 
the  camp,  who  brought  intelligence  that  the   enemy  had  ar- 
lived  m  great  numbers  at  Talledega,  about  thirty  miles  below 
the  camp,  where  one  hundred  and  sixty  men  of  the  friendly 
Creeks  had  erected  a  fort,  the  more  effectually  to  resist  the 
ettorts  of  the  hostile  party,  and  where  they  were  now  stationed 
with  their  wives  and  children.     The  messenger  represented 
that,  unless  speedy  relief  could  be  obtained  from  the  arm  , 
the  fort  would  certainly  be  taken.     General  Jackson  imme- 
diately gave  orders  for  taking  up  the  line  of  march,  with  twelve 
hundred  infantry  and  eight  hundred  cavalry  and  mounted  rifle- 
men, leaving  behind  the  sick,  the  wounded,  and  the  baggage, 
with  a  sufficient  force  for  their  protection.     By  twelve  o'clock 
that  night  the  army  was  in  motion,  and  commenced  crossing 
the  river  opposite  the  encampment,  which  was  affected  in  a 
tew  hours,  and  on  the  night  of  the  8th  the  army  was  encamped 
within  SIX  miles  of  the  enemy.     At  eleven  that  night  a  Soldier 
and  two  Indians,  who  had  been  sent  forward  to  reconnoitre, 
returned  with  the  intelligence  that  the  enemy  were  encamped 
within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  fort;  but  they  had  not  been 
able  to  approach  near  enough  to  ascertain  either  their  nnmber 
or  precise  situation.     At  midnight  the  adjutant- general  was 
ordered  to  prepare  the  line  of  march,  and  by  four  o'clock  the 


—  -"J     Triis   ill    iiiwuuil. 


The  infantry  marched  in  three  columns;  the  cavalry  and 
mounted  riflenjen  were  in  the  rear,  with  flankers  on  each 


128 


HISTORY    OF  THK  WAR 


r 


wing.  The  advance  consisted  of  a  company  of  artillery  with 
muskets,  and  two  companies  of  riflemen.  A  company  of  spies 
marched  four  hundred  yards  in  front  of  the  whole,  to  bring  on 
the  engagement.  Having  arrived  within  a  mile  of  the  enemy 
at  seven  o'clock,  two  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  cavalry  and 
mounted  riflemen  were  placed  in  the  rear  of  the  centre,  as  a 
corps  de  reserve,  and  the  remainder  were  ordered  to  advance 
on  the  right  and  left  of  the  infantry,  and,  after  having  encircled 
the  enemy,  by  unithig  the  fronts  of  their  columns,  and  keeping 
their  rear  connected  with  the  infantry,  to  face  and  press  in- 
wards towards  the  centre,  so  as  to  leave  the  enemy  no  possi- 
bility of  escape.  The  infantry  were  ordered  to  advance  by 
heads  of  companies,  general  Hall's  brigade  occupying  the  right, 
and  general  Roberts'  the  left. 

About  eight  o'clock  the  advance,  having  arrived  within 
eig4ity  yards  of  the  enemy,  who  were  concea'ed  in  a  thick 
shrubbery  which  covered  the  margin  of  a  rivulet,  received 
from  tliem  a  heavy  fire,  which  they  immediately  returned,  and 
then  charii;cd  and  disloged  them  from  their  position.  The 
advance  now  fell  back,  as  th  y  had  been  previously  ordered, 
to  the  centre.  On  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  three  of  the 
militia  companies,  having  given  one  fire,  commenced  a  retreat, 
notwithstanding  the  utmost  exertions  of  their  officers.  To 
fill  up  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  this  retreat,  Jackson  imme- 
diately ordered  up  a  regiment  of  volunteers;  bu\  finding  the 
advance  of  the  enemy  too  rapid  to  admit  of  their  arrival  in 
time,  the  reserve  was  ordered  to  dismount  and  meet  them. 
This  order  was  executed  with  great  promptitude  and  gallan- 
try, and  the  retreating  militia,  seeing  the  spirited  stand  made 
by  the  reserve,  immediately  rallied,  and  recovered  their  posi- 
tion, pouring  in  upon  the  enemy  a  most  destructive  fire.  The 
engagement  now  became  general;  and  in  fifteen  minutes  the 
Indians  were  seen  flying  in  every  direction.  On  the  left  they 
were  met  and  repulsed  by  the  mounted  riflemen;  but  on  the 
right  it  unfortunately  happened  that  too  great  a  space  had  been 
left  between  the  cavalry  and  infantry,  by  which  numbers  es- 
caped. They  were  pursued,  however,  for  three  miles  to  the 
mountains  with  great  slaughter. 

The  force  of  the  enemy  was  represented  by  themselves  at 
a  thousand  and  eighty,  two  hundred  and  ninety-nine  of  whom 
were  left  dead  on  the  ground,  and  a  great  many  were  killed 
in  their  flight.  It  is  believed  that  very  few  escaped  without  a 
wound.  The  American  loss  was  fifteen  killed  and  eighty 
wounded. 

On  the  1 1th  of  November,  gcliera.1  Cocke,  who  commanded 


JIISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


129 


0  commanded 


the  otlicr  division  of  the  Tennessee  militia,  ordered  brisadier^ 
general  White,  with  a  detachment  of  mounted  infant^ry  and 
was  sZalioneT''^  ^""^"^  Fort  Armstrong,  where  this  di^vison 
nf  tho  t  ?M  V°''  f"  ^^P«di^»on  against  the  Hillibee  towns 
of  the  hostile  Creeks  on  the  Tallapoosie  rirer.  Thi's  expedi^ 
Zs  fntoX^  "'"'^  successful.  They  penetrated  one  hundred 
Jl!    ti  f  ^l^.^y'\  countiy,  and  burned  four  of  their  villa- 

ges,  three  of  which  they  found  deserted.  Previous  to  their 
arrival  at  the  fourth,  they  learned  that  a  party  of  the  hostile 
Creeks  were  assembled  there.  Having  marched  the  whole 
of  the  night  of  the  1 7th,  they  surrounded  and  completely  sur! 
prised  the  town  at  day.light  of  the  morning  of  the  18th,  and  of 

not  nt  P'''^^  ''  • '"^  l"''}'''''^  °f  '^''^^  J^"»^^^«^l  and  sixteen 
nlZ  ^^^P""^;  ''^'/  ^^'""^  ^^"^^  ^"'l  the  remainder  made 
prisoners.  The  detachment  now  returned  to  camp,  where  thev 
arrived  on  the  23d,  hating  lost  not  one  drop  of ^biood  Tn  this 
enterprise  The  country  through  which  they  marched  was 
exceedingly  rough  and  hilly,  and  they  had  to  pass  several  nar! 

Z  '^%^Z':"^"''  ''  Jf  ""'"'''^'y  '^  "«^  the  utmost  precau. 
t ion.  The  troops  and  horses,  likewise,  had  to  be  subsisted, 
a  great  degree,  on  such  supplies  as  could  be  procured  in 
le  enemy's  country,  which  rendered  their  march  more  tardy 
than  It  would  otherwise  have  been.  ^ 

The  Georgia  militia,  though  embodied  before  those  of  Ten- 
nessee,  were  not   able,  from  the  want  of  military  suppls,  to 
proceed  to  active  operations  till  the  end  of  November.     bZ  ' 
gadier-general  Stewart  had  been  oiiginally  lestined  for  the 

iXS'him'^r  1""^  '"^"'^"'  '"^f^"'^^>'  -nsideration: 

iKHicing  him    to  de<  ine    its   acceptance,   brigadier-general 

i  loyd  was  appointed  in  his  room.  ^     ^^i  j^enerai 

Towai'ds  the  end  of  N<ovember  Floyd  received  information 

that  numbers  of  the  hostile  Indians  weL  assembled  at  Auos- 

see,  a  town  on  the  southern  bank  of  the  Tallapoosie  riverfabout 

wen  y  miles  above  its  junction  with  the  doosa.     He    mme 

le  cl^l  ''k'-'^'-P'  ^'^^^^  ^"^  ^""^ted  on  the  west  sS^of 
!iA  5  /""^'f  17^''  and  proceeded  against  the  enemy  with 
1  me  hundred  and  fifty  militia,  and  between  three  and  four  hun 
dred  of  the  friendly  Creeks.  On  the  evening  of  the  28th  he 
detachment  encamped  within  nine  or  ten  miles  of  the  place  o) 
destination,  and  having  resximed  their  march  abou    one  nex 

Tthe't^clwn  ^"%ri  '^^^"^  "^^  ^^"-^^  f-'  -tion  in     on 
ot  the  town.     The  <letachment  was  formed  in  two  columns 

•;?l!:i1^^^"^P-y  -^  --h  flank,  and  a  comnan;  of  artiUei^' 
«  itvjjM.  ui  iiiv  iigni  coiuiiiij. 

It  was  Floyd's  intention  to  have  completely  surrounded  the 

M 


130 


HISTORY    OF  THE  WAH. 


<ii« 


4 

ii^ 


fP 


■  \ 


enemy,  by  resting  the  right  wing  of  his  force  on  Canleebec 
creek,  at  the  mouth  of  which  he  was  informed  their  town 
stood,  and  resting  his  left  on  the  river  bank  below  the  town; 
but  to  his  surprise,  as  the  day  dawned,  he  perceived  a  second 
town  about  500  yards  below  that  which  he  was  preparing  to 
attack.      The  plan,  therefore,  was  instantly  changed;  three 
companies  of  infantry  on  the  left  were  wheeled  to  the  left  e?i 
rcAelon,*  and  advanced  to  the  lower  town,  accompanied  by  a 
rifle  company  and  two  troops  of  light  dragoons.     The  remain- 
der of  the  force  approached  the  i':^  -  -  tovvii,  und  the  battle 
son  became  general.     The  Indian-    r   ,  *'iited  themselves  at 
every  point,  and  fought  with  despera      ,vravery;  but  the  well- 
directed  fire  of  the  artillery  and  the  bayonets  of  the  infantry 
soon  forced  them  to  take  refuge  in  the  out-houses,  thickets,  and 
copses  in  the  rear  of  the  town.     Many,  it  was  supposed,  se- 
cured themselves  in  caves,  previously  formed  for  this  purpose 
in  the  high  bluff  of  the  river,  which  was  thickly  covered  with 
reeds  and  brush-wood.     It  was  intended  that  the  friendly  In- 
dians should  have  crossed  the  river  above  the  town,  and  been 
posted  on  the  opposite  shore  during  the  action,  to  fire  on  such 
of  the  enemy  as  should  attempt  to  escape,  or  to  keep  in  check 
any  reinforcements  which  might  be  attempted  to  be  thrown  in 
from  the  neighbouring  towns.     Owing  to  the  difficullj  of  the 
ford,  however,  and  the  coldness  of  the  weather  and  lateness  of 
the  hour,  this  arrangement  failed,  and  their  leaders  were  di- 
rected to  cross  Canleebee  creek,  and  occupy  that  flank,  to  pre- 
vent escapes  from  the  Tallisee  town.     Some  time  after  the 
action  commenced,  the  friendly  Indians  thronged  in  disorder 
in  the  rear  of  the  militia,  Avhen  the  hostile  tribes  fell  on  the 
flanks  of  the  detachment  and  fought  uith  great  intrepidity. 
By  nine  o'clock,  however,  the  enemy  »vas  completely  driven 
from  the  plains,  and  the  houses  of  both  towns  were  wrapped 
In  flames. 

It  was  impossible  to  determine  the  strength  of  the  enemy, 
hut  from  the  information  of  some  of  the  chiefs,  which  it  is 
said  could  be  relied  on,  there  were  assembled  at  Autossee, 
warriors  from  eight  towns  for  its  defence,  it  being  their  be- 
loved ground,  on  which  they  proclaimed  no  white  man  could 


*  ji  position  171  which  each  division  foliows  the  preceding  one, 

like   the  steps   of  a  ladder  (echelle),  from  which    the  word  is 

derived.      A  position  en  enchelon  is  convenient  in  removing 

from  a  direct  to  an  oblique  or  diagonal  /???€•  .=DuaRe's  Military 

Dictionary. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


Canleebee 
their  town 

the  town; 
d  a  second 
re  paring  to 
igcd;  three 

the  left  «?7i 
anied  by  a 
he  remain- 

the  battle 
mselves  at 
It  the  well- 
le  infantry 
ickets,  and 
iposcd,  sc- 
lis  purpose 
vered  with 
riendly  Irv- 
I,  and  been 
ire  on  such 
p  in  check 
!  thrown  in 
ullj  of  the 
lateness  of 
s  were  di- 
nk, to  pre- 
3  after  the 
n  disorder 
•ell  on  the 
ntrepidity. 
ely  driven 
B  wrapped 

le  enemy, 
'hich  it  is 
Autossce, 
their  be- 
nan  could 


'ding  071  e, 
e  word  is 
removing 


approach  without  inevitable  destruction.  Neither  was  it  pos- 
hible  to  ascertain  their  loss;  but  from  the  number  which  were 
lying  scattered  over  the  field,  together  with  those  destroyed 
jn  the  towns,  and  those  slain  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  whom 
respectable  officers  affirmed  they  saw  lying  in  heaps  at  the 
water's  edge,  where  they  had  been  precipitated  by  their  sur- 
viving friends,  their  loss,  in  killed  alone,  must  have  been  at 
least  200,  among  whom  were  the  Autosseeand  Tallisee  kings. 
The  number  of  buildings  burnt  is  supposed  to  be  400;  some 
of  them  were  of  a  superior  order  for  the  dwellings  of  savages, 
and  filled  with  valuable  articles.  The  Americans  had  eleven 
killed  and  fifty-four  wounded,  among  the  latter  was  general 
Floyd. 

The  detachment  being  now  sixty  miles  from  any  depot  of 
provisions,  and  their  rations  pretty  nearly  consumed,  as  soon 
as  the  dead  and  wounded  were  properly  disposed  of,  the  place 
was  abandoned,  and  the  troops  commenced  their  march  back 
lo  the  camp  on  the  Chatahouchie,  a  measure  the  more  neces- 
sary as  they  were  in  the  heart  of  an  enemy's  country,  which 
in  a  few  days  could  have  poured  from  its  numerous  towns 
hosts  of  warriors.  They  arrived  at  the  camp  in  safety,  having 
marched  120  miles  in  seven  days. 

On  the  9th  of  December  another  detachment  of  the  Geor- 
gia  militia,  consisting  of  about  530  meh,  under  the  command 
ot  general  Adams,  marched  on  an  expedition  against  the  Creek 
towns  on  the  Tallapoosie  river.  Notwithstanding  the  precau- 
tions which  they  used  to  prevent  the  Indians  from  hearing  of 
their  approach,  they  found  the  villages  deserted,  and  were 
unable  to  bring  the  enemy  to  action,  though  their  yells  were 
repeatedly  heard  on  both  sides  of  the  river.  Having  burnt 
two  of  tl.viir  villages,  therefore,  the  detachment  retui-ned  to 
camp. 

TAventy-three  of  the  American  soldiers  who  were  made 
prisoners  at  the  battle  of  Queenstown,  in  the  autumn  of  1812, 
were  sent  to  England,  where  they  were  detained  in  rigorous 
confinement  a-^  British  subjects.  On  this  being  made  \nown 
to  the  government  of  the  United  States  .by  the  American  com- 
missary of  prisoners  at  London,  orders  were  issued  to  general 
Dearborn  to  place  in  close  confinement  a  like  number  of  Brit- 
ish soldiers,  to  be  kept  aj>  hostages  for  the  safety  and  exchange 
the  American  prisoners.  I'his  order  was  carried  into  execu- 
tion by  the  imprisonment  of  twenty-three  of  the  prisoners 
captured  at  Fort  Geoa-ge,  in  May,  1813,  of  which  general 
x^caroorn  apprised  im  governor  of  Qanada  in  a  letter  dated 
the;  3 1  st  of  that  mout,h., 


132 


HrSTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


1 


t 


'r'l 


General  Dearborn's  letter  was  transmitted  to  the  British 
government,  who  immediately  instructed  governor  Prevost  to 
state  to  the  commander  of  the  American  forces,  for  the  infor- 
mation  of  his  government,  tliat  he  was  cpmrnand^d  «  forth- 
with to  put  m  close  confinement  forty-six  American  officers 
and  non-commissioned  officers,  to  be  held  as  hostages  for  the 
safe  keeping  of  the  twenty-three  British  soldiers  stated  to 
have  been  put  in  close  confinement  by  order  of  the  American 
government. 

"  I  have  been  directed  at  the  same  time  to  apprise  you," 
continues  Prevost,  in  a  letter  to  general  Wilkinson,  "that  if 
any  ot  the  said  British   soldiers  shall  suffer  death  by  reason 
that  any  of  the  said  soldiers  of  the  United  States  now  under 
confinement  m  EiM^land  have  been  found  guiltv,  and  that  the 
known  law,  not  only  of  Great  Britain,  but  of  every  independent 
state  under  similar  circumstances,  has  been  in  consequence 
executed,  that  I  have  been  further  instructed  to  select  out  of 
T    u  ,I"u  "^^"  officers  and  non-commissioned  officers,  whom 
I  shall  have  put  into  confinement,  as  many  as  may  double  the 
number  ot  the  British  soldiers  who  shall  have  been  so  unwar- 
rantably put  to  death,  and  to  cause  such  officers  and  non-com- 
missioned  officers  to   suffer  death  immediately.     I  have  been 
lurther  instructed  by  his  majesty's  government  to  notify  you^ 
for  the  information  of  the  government  of  the  United  States, 
that  the  commanders  of  his  majesty's  armies  and  fleets  on  the 
coasts  of  America,  have  received  instructions  to  prosecute 
the  war  with  unmitigated  severity  against  all  cities,  towns,  and 
villages  belonging  to  the  United  States,  and  against  the  inha- 
bitants thereof,  if,  after  this  communication  shall  have  been 
made  to  you,  and  a  reasonable  time  given  for  its  being  trans- 
mitted to  the  American   government,  that  governntent  shall 
unhappily  not  be  deterred  from  putting  to  death  any  of  the 
soldiers  who  now  are,  or  who  may  hereafter  be  kept  as  hostages 
for  the    purposes  stated   in  the  letter  from    major-eeneral 
Dearborn."  •"      ^ 

General  Wilkinson,  in  his  answer  to  general  Prevosts's 
letter,  states,  that  he  should  immediately  transmit  a  copy  of 
it  to  the  executive  of  the  United  States.  «  I  forbear,"  con- 
tinued  Wilkinson,  « to  animadvert  on  the  acts  of  our  supe- 
riors, whatever  may  be  their  tendency;  but  you  must  pardon 
me  for  taking  exception  to  an  expression  in  your  letter.  The 
government  of  the  United  States  cannot  be  *  deterred,*  by 
any  considerations  of  life  or  death,  of  depredation  or  conflra- 
eration,  from  the  faithful  dirrharo-p  nf  ifc  Ai^txr  +i^  *k. 
can  nation." 


the  Britisli 
Prevost  to 
•  r  the  infor- 
l^d  «  forth- 
an  officers 
ges  for  the 
s  stated  to 
5  American 

)rise  you," 
)n,  "  that  lit 
by  reason 
now  under 
nd  that  the 
idependent 
)nsequence 
lect  out  ot* 
ers,  whom 
double  the 
L  so  unwar- 
1  non-com- 
have  been 
notify  you^ 
ted  States, 
eets  on  the 
prosecute 
towns,  and 
t  the  inha- 
have  been 
eing  trans- 
rtent  shall 
any  of  the 
IS  hostages 
or-general 

Prevosts's 
a  copy  of 
3ar,"  con- 
our  supe- 
jst  pardon 
ter.  The 
erred,*  by 
T  conflra- 


HISTORY    OF  T»e  WAR- 


13: 


In  a  su.)!  equent  communication,  general  Wilkinson  stated, 
that  «  the  government  of  the  United  States,  adhering  unalte- 
rably  to  tl^  principle  and  purpose  declared  in  the  communica- 
tion of  general  Dekrborn,  on  the  subject  of  the  twenty- three 
American  -oldiers,  prisoners  of  war,  sent  to  England  to  be  tried 
as  criminals  ;  and  the  confinement  of  a  like  number  of  British 
soldiers,  prisoners  of  war,  selected  to  abide  the  fate  of  the  for- 
mer ;  m  consequence  of  the  step  taken  by  the  British  govern- 
ment, as  now  communicated;  ordered  forty-six  British  officers 
in  close  confinement,  and  that  they  will  not  be  discharged  from 
then-  confinement,  until  it  shall  be  known  that  the  forty-six  Ame- 
rican officers  and  non-commissioned  officers  in  question  are  no 
longer  confined. 

General  Prevost,  on  the  receipt  of  this  letter,  ordered  all  A- 
rnerican  officers,  prisoners  of  .war,  without  exception  of  rank, 
to  be  immediately  placed  in  close  confinement,  as  hostages  for 
the  forty-six  British  officers  so  confined,  imtil  the  number  of 
torty-six  be  completed,  over  and  above  those  now  in  confine- 
luent. 

A  very  interesting  correspondence,  upon  a  somewhat  simi- 
lar subject,  between  general  Harrison  and  the  British  general 
\ mcent,  was  published  about  this  period.  After  the  capture 
ot  the  British  army,  in  the  battle  on  the  Thames,  general  Proc- 
lor  sent  a  flag  with  a  letter  to  general  Harrison^  requesting 
humane  treatment  for  the  prisoners  in  his  possession,  and  the 
restoration  of  private  property  and  papers.  Harrison  addres- 
sed his  answer  oji  the  subject  to  general  Vincent,- as. the  se- 
nior officer.  ^  * 

«  With  respect  to  the  subject  of  general  Pl-octor^s  letter 
says  Harrison,  «  those  which  I  have  the  honour  to  enclose  you 
trom  the  British  officers,  who  wore  taken  on  the  fifth  ultimo, 
to  their  friends,  and  the  report  of  Mr.  Le  Briton,  will  satisfy 
you  that  no  indulgence  which  humanity  could  claim  in  their 
iavour,  or  the  usages,  of  war  sanction,  has  been  withheld.  The 
disposition  of  the  property  taken  on  the  field  of  action  or  near 
It,  was  left  to  the  commanding  office;  at  Detroit.  The  instruc- 
tions given  to  that  gentleman,  and  the  well  known  generosity 
of  his  character,  will  ensure  to  the  claimants-  the  utmost  jus- 
tice and  liberality  in  his  decisions.  In  making  this  statement, 
I  wish  it  however  to  be  distinctly  understood,  that  my  conduct 
with  regard  to  the  prisoners  and  property  taken,  has  been  dictated 
solely  by  motives  of  humajiity,  and  not  by  a  belief  that  it  could  be 

' : 1 "---.,.  .^, .  -  .^ij^^i ^^^i^.;^  \}i  itcaiiiiciii. iu\vuru'»xnc  £k- 

merican  prisoners  who  have  fallen  into  the  hands  of  general. 
Proctoi',     The  unhappy  description  of  persons  who  have  es  • 


.»»- 


i.i-l. 


iiiSTony  OF  riiK  waij. 


1*1 


caped  the  tomahawk  of  the  savapjes  in  the  employment  ot"  the 
British  government,  who  fought  under  the  immediate  orders 
of  t}i3»  officer,  have  suffered  all  the  indignities  and  depriva- 
tions which  human  natu'"j  is  capable  of  supporting.  There  is 
no  single  instance  that  have  heard  of,  in  which  the  property 
of  the  officers  has  been  respected.  But  I  am  far  from  believing 
that  the  conduct  of  general  Proctor  has  been  thought  an  exam- 
ple worthy  of  imitation  by  the  greater  part  of  the  British  offi- 
cers ;  and  in  the  character  of  general  Vincent,  I  have  a  pledge 
that  he  will  unite  his  exertions  with  mine  to  soften  as  much  as 
possible  the  fate  of  those  whom  the  fortune  of  war  may  reci- 
procally place  in  our  power. 

"  But,  sir,  there  is  another  subject  upon  which  I  wish  an 
explicit  declaration.  Will  the  Indians  who  still  adhere  to  the 
'cause  of  his  Britannic  Majesty,  be  suffered  to  continue  that 
horrible  species  of  warfare  which  they  have  heretofore  prac- 
tised against  our  troops,  and  those  still  more  horrible  depreda- 
tions upon  the  peaceable  inhabitants  of  our  frontiers  ?  1  have 
sufficient  evidence  to  show  that  even  the  latter  have  not  al- 
ways been  perpetrated  by  small  parties  of  vagrant  Indians, 
acting  at  a  distance  from  the  British  army.  Some  of  the  most 
atrocious  instances  have  occurred  under  the  eyes  of  the  British 
,^  commander  and  the  head  of  the  Indian  department.  I  shall  pass 
by  the  tragedy  of  the  river  Raisin,  and  that  equally  well  known 
which  was  acted  on  the  Miami  river  after  the  defeat  of  colonel 
Dudley — and  select  three  other  instances  of  savage  barbarity 
committed  under  the  auspices  of  general  Proctor. — In  the  be- 
ginning of  June  a  small  party  of  Indians,  conducted  by  an  Ot- 
tbway  chief,  who  I  believe  is  now  with  the  British  army  under 
your  command,  left  Maiden  In  bark  canoes,  in  which  they  coast- 
ed Lake  Erie  to  the  mouth  of  Portag©, river;  the  canoes  were 
taken  across  the  Portage  to  the  Sandusky  bay,  over  which  the 
party  proceeded  to  the  mouth  of  Cold  creek,  and  from  thence 
by  land  to  the  settlements  uponth?^  river,  where  they  captured 
thre^  families,  consisting  of  one  man  and  twelve  women  and 
children.  After  taking  The  prisoners  some  distance,  one  of 
the  women  was  discovered  to  be  unable  to  keep  up  with  thera, 
in  consequence  of  her  advanced  state  of  pregnancy.  She  was 
immediately  tomahawked,  stripped  naked;  her  womb  ripped 
open,  and  the  child  taken  out.  Three  or  four  of  the  children 
were  successively  butchered  as  they  disc  overed  their  inabi- 
lity to  keep  up  with  the  party.     Upon  the  arrival  of  the  In- 

ed  by  colonel  Elliott,  and  the  others  by  the  citizens  of  Detroit, 
where  they  remained  until  they  were  taken  off  by  their  frienck 


HISTORY   OF  THE  W\R. 


13^ 


lent  ot'  the 
ate  orders 
i  depriva- 
Therc  is 
c  property 
I  believinjr 
t  an  exam- 
ritish  offi- 
e  a  pledge 
3  much  as 
may  rcci- 

I  wish  an 
tie  re  to  the 
ntinue  that 
(fore  prac- 
e  depreda- 
s  ?  I  have 
ve  not  al- 
it  Indians, 
jf  the  most 
the  British 

shall  pass 
veil  known 
t  of  colonel 
e  barbarity 
-In  the  be- 
1  by  an  Ot- 
rmy  under 
they  coast- 
jioes  were 

which  the 
om  thence 
y  captured 
komen  and 
ce,  one  of 
with  thcra, 
She  was 
mb  ripped 
le  children 
their  inabi- 
of  the  In- 

of  Detroit, 
icir  friends 


upon  the  recovery  of  that  place  by  our  army.  I  have  bedn  in- 
formed that  the  savage  chief  received  from  colonel  Elliott  a  re- 
firimand  foB  his  cruelty. 

'*  On  the  139th  or  30th  of  the  same  month,  a  large  party  of 
Indians  were  sent  from  Maiden  on  a  war  expedition  to  Lower 
Sandusky.  At  a  farm  horse  near  that  place,  they  murdered 
the  whole  family,  consisting  of  a  man,  his  wife,  son,  and  daugh- 
ter. 

"  During  the  l»'»i  attack  upon  Fort  Meigs  by  general  Proc- 
tor, a  party  headed  by  a  Seneca,  an  intimate  friend  of  Tecum- 
seh's,  was  sent  to  endeavour  to  detach  from  our  interest  the 
Shawanese  of  Wapockanata.  In  their  way  thither  they  mur- 
dered several  men,  and  one  woman  who  was  working  in  her 
cornfield. 

"  I  have  selected,  sir,  the  above  from  a  long  list  of  similar 
instances  of  barbarity,  which  the  history  of  the  last  fifteen 
months  could  not  furnish ;  because  they  were  perpetrated*  if 
not  in  the  view  of  the  British  commander,  by  parties  who  canie 
immediately  from  his  camp  and  returned  to  it — who  even  l-f!* 
ceived  their  daily  support  from  the  king's  stores,  who  in  fact 
(as  the  documents  in  my  possession  will  show)  form  part  of  his 
urmy. 

"  To  retaliate  then  upon  the  subjects  of  the  king  would 
have  been  justifiable  by  the  laws  of  war  and  the  usages  of  the 
most  civilized  nations.  To  do  so  lias  been  amply  in  my  power. 
The  tide  of  fortune  has  changed  in  our  favour,  and  an  exten- 
sive and  flourishing  province  opened  to  our  arms.  The  fu- 
ture conduct  of  the  British  officers  will  determine  the  correct- 
ness of  mine  in  withholding  it.  If  the  savages  should  be  again 
let  loose  upon  our  settlements,  I  shall  with  justice  be  accused 
of  having  sacrificed  the  interests  and  honour  of  my  country, 
and  the  lives  of  our  fellow  citizens,  to  feelings  of  false  and 
mistaken  humanity.  You  are  a  soldier,  sir,  and,  as  I  sincerely 
believe,  possess  all  the  honourable  sentiments  which  ought 
always  to  be  found  in  men  who^follow  the  profession  of  arms. 
Use  then,  I  pray  you,  your  authority  and  influence  to  stop  the 
dreadful  effusion  of  innocent  blood  which  pi^eeds  from  the 
employment  of  those  savage  mor^ersy  mj^^^  aid  (as  must 
now  be  discovered)  is  so  little  to  be  depended  upon  when  it  is 
most  wanted,  and  which  can  have  so  trifling  an  eff'ect  upon  the 
issue  of  the  war.  The  effect  of  their  barbarizes  will  not  be 
confined  to  the  present  generation.  Ages  yet  to  come  will 
iSCi  tiic  uccp  rootcu  iiatrcu  uiid  eaiTiity  whicli  they  must  pro- 
duce between  the  two  nations. 

"  I  deprecate  most  sincerely  the  dreadful  alternative  which 


136 


IlISTORV   OF  THE  WAFi 


r^i 


V-  , 


■}    .. 


1*1 


Will  be  offered  to  me  should  they  be  continued,  hut  I  solcmniy 
dcclare,  that  if  the  Indians  that  remain  under  the  influence  of 
the  British  jvovcrnment  are  suffered  to  commit  any  depi-edu 
tion8  upon  the  citizens  within  the  district  that  is  committed  to 
my  protection,  I  will  remove  the  restrictions  which  have  hith- 
erto  been  imposed  upon  those  who  have  offered  their  serviccH 
to  the  United  States;  and  direct  them  to  carry  on  the  war  iii 
their  own  way.  I  have  never  heard,  a  single  excuse  for  the 
employment  of  the  savajijes  by  your  (government,  unless  we  can 
credit  the  story  of  some  British  officer  having  dared  to  assert, 
that, '  as  we  employed  the  Kentuckians,  you  had  a  right  to 
make  use  of  the  Indians."  If  such  injurious  sentiments  have 
really  prevailed,  to  the  prejudice  of  abrave,  well-informedTand 
virtuous  people,  it  will  be  removed  by  the  representations  of 
your  officers  who  were  lately  taken  on  the  river  Thames.  Thc> 
will  inform  you,  sir,  that  so  far  from  offering  any  violence  to 
the  persons  of  their  prisoners,  these  ^flfa^'**'*  would  not  permit 
a  word  to  escape  them  which  was  calculated  to  wound  or  in- 
sult their  feelings,  and  this  too  with  the  sufferings  of  their 
friends  and  relatives  at  the  river  Uaisin  and  Miami,  fresh  upon 
their  recollection. 

"  P.  S.  I  pledge  myself  for  the  truth  of  the  above  statemeia 
in  relation  to  the  murders  committed  by  the  Iddians." 

General  Vincent,  in  reply,  stated,  that  "  the  account  givCn 
of  the  British  officers,  whom  the  fortune  of  war  has  lately  pla- 
ced at  the  disposal  of  the  United  States,  is  such,  as  cannot  fail 
affording  very  consoling  reflections  to  this  army  and  thei; 
anxious  friends 

"Though  you  must  be  sensible,"  continues  he,  "  that  there 
are  several  points  in  your  letter  respecting  vrhich  it  is  wholly 
beyond  my  power  to  afford  you  the  satisfaction  of  an  '  explicit 
declaration,*  yet  be  assured,  sir,  I  shall  never  feel  the  smallest 
dei;!  ee  of  hesitation  in  joining  you  in  any  pledge,  that  it  will 
ever  be  my  anxious  wish  and  endeavour  to  alleviate  as  much  as 
possible  the  fate  of  those  who  may  fall  into  my  power  by  the 
chnnces  of  war. 

'■■  Believe  me,  sir,  I  deprecate  as  strongly  as  yourself  the 
per;:.etration  of  acts  of  cruelty  committed  under  any  pretext; 
and  shall  lament  equally  with  yourself  that  any  state  of  things 
should  produce  them.  No  efforts  of  mine  will  be  ever  want- 
ing to  diminish  the  evils  of  a  state  of  warfare,  as  far  as  may 
be  consistent  with  the  duties  which  are  due  to.  ray  king  and 
country. 

«  The  Indians  when  acting  in  conjunction  with  the  troops 
\mder  my  command,  have  been  invariably  exhorted  to  mercy, 


HISTORY    OF  THE  WAH. 


J  37 


hanies.  Thc\ 


>ve  statement 


jiiul  have  never  been  deaf  to  my  anxious  entreaties  on  this  in- 
teresting subject. 

"  I  shall  not  fail  to  transmit  the  original  of  your  letter  to  the 
lower  province,  for  the  consideraticn  of  his  excellency  the 
f;ommander  of  the  forces." 

The  war  with  Great  Britain,  during  the  two  first  campaigns 
was  productive  of  no  events  which  materially  altered  the  situ- 
ation of  the  two  countries.  With  sufficient  occupation  for  her 
troops  in  the  European  peninsula,  and  with  every  nerve  strain- 
ed- in  bringing  forth  her  pecuniary  resources,  for  the  support 
of  her  allies  in  Russia  and  Germany,  Great  Britain  was. unable 
to  make  any  eflTectual  impression  on  the  United  States,  and 
could  not  even  have  preserved  her  North  American  provinces, 
I)iit  for  the  raw  and  undiciplined  state  of  the  American  forces, 
and  the  want  of  knowledge  and  experience  in  their  comman- 
ders. But,  amidst  all  the  reverses  that  attended  the  first  ef- 
forts of  the  army  of  America,  the  native  bravery  of  her  sons 
was  sufficiently  apparent.  The  events  even  of  the  first  two  cam- 
paigns sufficiently  proved,  that  nothing  but  hp.bita  of  discipline 
and  able  Icailers  were  wanting  to  convert  this  rude  mass  into  a 
body  of  warriors,  not  unworthy  to  defend  the  soil  of  freedom, 
and  to  carry  vengeance  against  the  most  powerful  aggressors 
upon  the  rights  of  their  country. 

While  the  army  was  thus  acquiring  discipline  in  the  fields 
of  Upper  Canada,  and  in  the  pathless  desarts  of  Ohio,  the  re- 
publican navy  had  an  apparently  still  more  difficult  task  to  per- 
ioini.  Having  annihilated  the  navies  of  Europe,  in  the  course 
of  a  twenty  years  war,  Britain  was  enabled  fearlessly  to  cover 
our  coasts  with  her  thousand  ships  of  war.  The  navy  of  Ame- 
rica was  an  object  of  ridicule  with  the  British  nation,  aid  it  was 
confidently  predicted  in  her  legislative  assembly,  that  m  a  few 
short  months  the  «  half  dozen  fir-built  frigates,  with  a  piece  of 
striped  bunting  at  the  mast-head"  would  be  swept  from  the 
ocean.  Nay,  even  the  forebodings  of  our  friends  were  but  lit, 
tie  more  favourable.  What  could  a  few  frigates  and  sloops  of 
vvar  effect  against  a  fleet,  which  had  succeeded  in  breaking 
down  every  naval  power  in  the  world,  and  who  could  exclaim, 
almost  without  an  hyperbole: 

"  The  winds  and  seas  are  Britain's  -wide  domain, 
"  ^nd  not  a  sail  but  by  permission  sfireads."* 


*  British  Naval  Re^iste^ 


i^\. 


138 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


-J^'r'J.. , 


But  this  arduous  task  was  undertaken  with  undaunted  firm- 
ness,  and  the  result  was  as  brilliant  as  unexpected.  Frigate 
met  with  frigate,  and  fleet  with  fleet,  and  tae  flag  of  the  con- 
querors of  the  world  was  repeatedly  struck  to  the  infant  navy 
of  the  rude  republicans.  To  hide  the  disgrace,  the  enemy  was 
lam  to  claim  kindred  with  those  they  had  affected  to  call  a  de- 
generate and  outcast  race,  or  to  resort  to  the  more  unfair  and 
mean  subterfuge  of  designating  as  «  seventy-fours  in  disguise," 
the  same  frigates  which  they  had  had  numerous  opportunities 
ot  examining,  both  in  our  ports  and  their  own,  and  which  but  a 
lew  months  before  they  had  laughed  to  scorn.  The  British 
vessels  were  also  made  to  undergo  a  metamorphosis,  but  in  an 
inverse  ratio  to  that  of  the  Americans.  Their  ships,  brigs, 
schooners,  and  sloops  were  converted  into  gun-boats,  in  the  fu- 
tile hope  of  tearing  the  wreath  from  the  brows  of  the  noble 
Perry,  whose  modest  demeanour  and  humane  conduct  was 
such  as  to  extort  the  reluctant  applause  even  of  those  who  sub- 
mitted to  liis  prowess. 

Instead,  therefoi-e,  of  being  confined  to  our  ports,  or  swept 
from  the  ocean,  the  little  navy  of  America  visited  every  sea 
and  every  where  unfurled  her  stripes  and  stars.  Nor  did  the 
coasts  of  the  mistress  of  the  ocean  escape.  Vessels  were  even 
captured  in  her  own  narrow  seas. 

Meanwhile  the  British  navy  was  employed  in  the  vain  at- 
tempt of  «  hermetrically  sealing  the  American  ports,"  or  in  ha- 
rassing  the  coasts  of  the  Chesapeake  by  petty  marauding  ex- 
cursions, whose  prime  object  seems  to  have  been  the  burning 
of  farm-houses  and  oyster-boats,  or  the  plundering  stock  and 
tobacco,  on  this  extensive  and  defenceless  frontier. 

But  by  the  occurrence  of  one  of  the  most  wonderful  events 
in  this  most  Wonderful  era,  the  war  was  now  to  assume  a  veiy 
different  aspect.  Our  republican  institutions  were  destined  to 
undergo  a  fiery  trial,  and  the  hitherto  problematical  question  to 
be  resolved,  whether  a  free  government,  which  derived  its 
chief  strength  from  public  opinion,  was  capable  of  sustaining 
Itself  single-handed  during  a  conflict  with  a  power  possejised 
of  apparently  boundless  resources,  and  whose  armies  had  just 
returned  from  ".conquering  the  conquerors  of  Europe,"  a*id 
dictating  an  ignominious  peace  in  their  capital.  Nor  were 
other  unfavourable  circumstances  wanting  to  darken  the  cloud 
which  hung  over  America  at  this  eventful  period.  The  treasu- 
ry, one  of  the  principal  sinews  of  war,  was  nearly  beggared  by  the 
temporising  policy  and  ruinous  expedients  which^had  been  re- 
sorted to,  and  the  policy  of  the  enemy  had  succeeded  in  draining 
the  country  of  its  circulating  medium  to  such  an  extent,  as  to 


sis  were  even 


uiSToay  OF  tHE  war.  139 

induce  a  general  stoppage  of  specie  payments  by  the  banks  in 

almost  every  section  of  the  country.     Perhaps  a  more  interest- 

'"esented  *'^"'^"*'^  ^^^^^^^  ^^^^^  occurred  than  this  crisis 

The  main  body  of  the  American  army  on  the  Canadian  fron- 

fFVrnTJ;^u'"'T^^^'°Vgh  the  winter  in  their  cantonments 
at  t  rench  Mills.  Preparations,  however,  were  early  made  for 
the  opening  of  the  ensuing  campaign  ;  and  towards  the  middle 
ot  February,  after  havmg  destroyed  their  temporary  barracks, 
and  the  major  part  of  their  boats,  the  army  maVchedintwo  co- 
lumns, the  one  under  general  Brown  for  Sackett's  Harbour,  the 
other  towards  lake  Champlain,  under  general  Macomb.  Gen- 
eial  Wilkinson  remained  one  day  behind  for  the  protection  of 
the  rear,  and  then  followed  Macomb  to  Plattsburg.  The  march 
Gt  both  columns  was  unmolested  by  the  enemy. 

No  further  movements  were  made  until  the  end  of  March 
when  general  Wilkinson,  learning  that  general  Brown  had 
inarched  from  Sackett's  Harbour  against  Fort  NiagaraTdeter. 
mined  upon  attempting  a  diversion  in  his  favour.  He  accord- 
nigly  put  his  army  in  motion  on  the  Odelltown  road,  and,  enter- 
uig  Canada  on  tne  30th  of  March,  advanced  againsJ  a  position 
occupied  by  the  enemy  on  the  river  La  Cole,  where  the  British 

iTher  defences.  '^^  ''°"^  ""'"'  ^""^  "'""'^^  "^  blockhouse  and 
An  eighteen  pounder  had  been  ordered  forward  to  effect  the 
destruction  of  the  mill,  but  it  broke  down,  and  after  bein^  i-e- 
paired,  the  only  road  of  approach,  through  a  deep  forestfwas 
reported  to  be  impracticable  to  a  gun  of  such  weight.  An  ooi- 
mon  prevailed  with  the  chief  engineer,  and  several  of  the  best 
intormed  officers,  that  an  iron  twelve  would  suffice  to  make  a 

of  n'nlv  U  "'  f''/  ^r  ""1^  '^^^^"^  experiment,  at  a  distance 
ot  only  three  hundred  yards,  it  was  discovered  that  the  battery 
could  make  no  impression.  ^ 

During  this  cannonade,  which  was  returned  by  a  s^ood  and 
some  gun-boats  from  Isle  aux  Noix,  several  sorties  and  despe- 
rate charges  were  made  from  the  m$l  upon  the  American  bat- 
tery ;  these  were  repulsed  with  great  coolness  by  the  covering: 
corps,  and  the  who  e  body  engaged  displayed  the  utmost  gallan- 
try  and  bravery,  during  the  affair.     The  conduct  of  clpahi 
M'Pherson,  who  commanded  the  battery,  is  partVuhrV  no 
iced  by  general  Wilkinson,  who  also  states  that  h^  was  adml 
Tably  seconded  by  lieutenants  Larrabee  and  Sheldon.     M'Pher- 
son and  Larrabee  were  both  severelv  wmmdeH 
\™fn"^  ail  attempts  to  make  a  breach  unsuccessful,  general 
\\  rlkinson  withdrew  the  battery,  called  in  his  detachments,  and 


.t«»r.  ;"^WEi,* 


uo 


lUSTORV    OF  THE  WAK*. 


after  removing  the  dead  and  wounded,  and  every  thing  else,  fell 
back,  unmolested,  the  same  evening,  about  three  miles,  to 
Odelltown,  a  small  tovrn  just  within  the  Canada  lines. 

The  force  of  the  British  at  the  position  of  La  Cole,  was  re- 
ported, from  a  source  on  which  reliance  might  be  placed,  at 
5500  men.  That  of  the  Americans  is  unofficially  stated  at  be- 
tween three  and  four  thousand.  A  small  part  of  this  force 
however  was  actually  engaged.  The  loss  of  the  Americans 
in  killed  and  wounded  on  this  occasion  was  between  80  and 
90.  That  of  the  British  was  10  killed,  46  wounded,  and  4 
missing. 

This  inauspicious  opening  of  the  campaign,  joined  to  the  fail- 
ure of  the  expedition  against  Montreal  the  preceding  au- 
tumn, threw  a  great  deal  of  odium  on  general  Wilkinson,  and 
he  was  shortly  after  superceded  in  the  command  by  general 
Izai'd.* 

Meantime  general  Brown,  after  remaining  for  a  short  period 
at  Sackett's  Harbour,  put  his  troops  in  motion  towards  the 
Niagara  frontier.  Expectations  were  entertained  that  he 
would  immediately  drive  the  enemy  from  his  position  in  the 
American  territory,  but  these  expectations  were  disappointed. 
During  the  spring  months,  tranquility  reigned  uninterrupted 
along  the  whole  line  of  the  Upper  Canada  frontier,  save  by  a 
few  partial  encounters,  which  shall  be  noticed  in  the  order  in 
which  they  occurred. 

•  A  small  force,  cosnsisting  of  about  180  rangers  and  mounted 
infantry,  under  captain  Holmes,  was  dispatched  by  lieutenant- 
colonel  Butler,  the  commander  at  Detroit,  against  Delaware,  a 
British  post  on  the  river  Thames.  This  detachment  had  set 
out  with  artillery,  but  the  state  of  the  country  presenting  invin- 
cible obstacles  to  its  transportation,  it  was  left  behind.  By 
these  means,  and  by  sending  back  the  sick  to  Detroit,  Holmes 
little  force  was  diminished  to  about  160  men. 

On  the  3d  of  March,  intelligence  was  received,  that  a  body 
of  the  enemy,  nearly  double  his  force,  was  descending  the 
Thames,  one  half  of  whom  were  regulars,  and  the  remainder 
militia  and  Indians.  Holmes  immediately  retreated  a  few 
miles,  and  took  an  excellent  position  on  the  we  stem  bank  of  a 
creek,  which  ran  through  a  deep  and  wide  ravine.     Captain 


*  General   Wilkinson    was  tried  by  a   court  martial  held  at 
Troy^  in  the  state  o/  JVew  Yo7'k^on  various  accusations  exhibit- 

was  honourably  acquitted  of  all  the  charges  exhibite4  against 
htm. 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


.14.1 


'hibit€4  against  \ 


Gill  was  left  with  a  few  rangers  to  cover  the  rear,  and  watch 
the  mo  ions  of  the  enemy  ;  but  hardly  had  the  main  body  en- 
camped, before  they  were  joined  by  the  rangers,  who  had  been 
driven  in,  after  exchanging  a  few  shots  with  the  British  ad- 
vanced corps,  in  a  vain  attempt  to  reconnoitre  their  force 

During  the  night  of  the  3d,  the  British  encamped  upon  the 
eastern  heights,  and  next  morning  succeeded  in  drawing  cap- 
lain  Holmes  from  his  position  by  a  weli  contrived  stratagem 
which,  had  It  been  skilfully  followed  up,  could  hardly  haveS 
ed  to  even  ua  e  in  the  destruction  of  the  American  detachment 
Fortunately  however,  this  was  not  the  case.  At  sun-risT  the 
enemy  exhibited  a  small  and  scattered  force  on  the  opposUe 
heights,  who  retreated,  after  ineffectually  firing  at  the  Amer\! 
ran  camp,  and  the  reconnoitering  party  reported  that  the  retreat 

^nnuV?  '  ,'  ^*^^^  J^^dgmg  from  their  trail  and  fires,  they 
could  not  exceed  seventy  men.  Mortified  at  the  ideaofhavins 
ZZf^t^  ^'""^  '^^'  diminutive  force,  Holmes  instantly  com? 
menced  the  pursuit,  and  resumed  the  idea  of  attacking  the  ene- 
-my  s  post.  He  had  not,  however,  proceeded  beyond  five  miles, 
when  his  advance  discovered  the  enemy,  in  considerable  force 
arranging  themselves  for  battle.  ' 

The  stratagem  of  the  enemy  being  now  apparent,  captain 

lolmes  instantly  took  advantage  of  the  blunder  which  they 
had  committed,  in  not  throwing  themselves  in  his  rear,  and 
thus  placing  his  detachment  between  a  fortified  position  and  a 
superior  foyce;  and  happily  he  soon  regained  his  former  posi- 
lion.  Here,  placing  the  horses  and  baggage  in  the  centre,  he 
lonned  his  troops  a-tootin  a  hollow  square,  to  prevent  the  ne- 
.cssity  of  evolution,  which  such  raw  troops  were  incompetent 

o  perform  m  action  Holmes  thus  calmly  waited  the  approach 
ot  the  enenriy,  in  defiance  of  the  murmurs  of  his  men,  who  were 
unammously  m  favour  of  a  retreat,  thinking  it  madness  to  en- 
i!:age  with  so  superior  a  fwce. 

The  attack  was  commenced  simultaneously  on  every  front, 
he  militia  and   ndians  attacking  from  the  north,  west  and  south 

.i^,n ^?^^^'"K  """"f  ^"^^"'^  sounding,  and  the  regulars  charg-' 

"g  up  the    heights  fiom  the  ravine  on  the  east      The  latter 

bravely  approached  to  within  20  paces  of  the  American  line 

sgainst  the  most  destructive  fire.     .But  the  front  section  beSg 

s hot  to  pieces,  those  who  fo  lowed  much  thinned  and  wounded. 

tte  cTl^^  .^i".^!^""''^  ^"^  ^^^^"'  ^'^«>'  ''^'^  ^^^'^^^  to  abandon 
I.  r.n...  ^.,  ^.cl  taKc  cover  ill  tne  woods  in  difiused  order,  with- 

Brhk^    'V  ^f '"'  ''^'^'''  ^"^-g«»i«ts.     The  cnarge'of  the 
Bnush  regulars  thus  repulsed,  they  had  recourse  to  their  am- 

N 


n 


142 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


Mi 


munition,  and  the  firing  encreased  on  both  sides  with  great  vi- 
vacity. The  American  regulars,  being  uncovered,  were  or- 
dered to  kneel,  that  the  brow  of  the  heights  might  assist  in- 
screening  them  from  the  view  of  the  enemy.  But  the  enemy's 
cover  also  proved  insufficient,  a  common  sized  tree  being  una- 
ble to  protect  even  one  man  from  the  extended  line  of  Ame- 
ricans; much  less  the  squads  hat  often  stood  and  breathed  their 
last  together. 

On  the  other  three  sides  the  firing  was  sustained  with  much 
coolness,  and  with  considerable  loss  to  the  foe.  The  troops  on 
those  sides  being  protected  by  logs  hastily  thrown  together, 
and  the  enemy  not  charging,  both  the  rifle  and  musket  were 
aimed  at  leisure,  with  that  deadly  certainty  which  distinguish- 
es the  American  backwoodsman.  Unable  to  sustain  so  une- 
qual contest,  therefore,  and  favoured  by  the  shades  of  twilight, 
the  British  commenced  a  general  retreat,  after  an  hour's  close 
and  gallant  conflict. 

CaptJrtn  Holmes  declined  a  pursuit,  as  the  enemy  were  still 
superior  bot|i  in  numbers  and  discipline,  and  as  the  night  would 
have  insured  success  to  an  ambuscade.  Besides,  as  the  creek 
would  have  to  be  passed  and  the  heights  ascended,  the  attempt 
to  pursuQ  would  have  given  the  enemy  the  same  advantage 
which  produced  their  defeat,  as  it  could  be  passed  on  horse- 
back at  no  other  point ;  and  the  troops  being  fatigued  and  frost, 
bitten,  and  their  shoes  cut  to  pieces  by  the  frozen  ground,  it 
was  not  possible  to  pursue  on  foot.  Captain  Holmes  accord- 
ini4,ly  returned  to  Detroit. 

The  American  loss,  in  killed  and  wounded,  on  this  occasion, 
amounted  only  to  a  non-commissioned  officer  and  six  privates  ; 
T-he  British  official  account  states  their  loss  at  1 4  killed,  5 1 
wounded,  1  missing,-  and  1  officer  wounded  and  taken.  Two 
of  the  officers  were  killed,  and  the  same  number  wounded. 
This  statement  does  not  include  the  loss  of  the  Indians.  The 
whole  American  fc/ce  in  action  consited  of  150  rank  and  file, 
of  whom  includin.i,^  the  rangers,  70  were  militia.  The  British 
regulars  aloi.e  were  from  150  to  180  strong,  and  the  militia  and 
Indians  fought  upon  three  sides  of  the  square. 

On  lake  Ontiirio,  the  British  still  preserved  the  superiority 
which  the  addition  to  their  squadron  had  conferred  on  th<^m 
the  preceding  autumn.  Measures,  however,  were  in  rapid  pro- 
gress at  Sackett's  Harbour,  towards  placing  the  hostile  fleets 
on  a  more  equal  footing.     A  handsome  ship,  rated  44  guns,  and 

t^ari'vino"    «ift.    •wn>i  Inimrlifrl  on  the    fir«t   »^f  TVTotr        "W/K;!^    +U\i- 

vessel  was  on  the  stocks,  an  unsuccessful  attempt  was  made 
by  the  enemy  to  blow  her  up.  The  boats  employed  in  this  eoter- 


HISTORY    OF  THE  WAR. 


US 


s  occasion. 


prize  were  discovered  by  the  American  guard  boats  in  the  bay 
and  were  forced  to  fly,  after  throwing  their  kegs  of  powder 
overboard. 

Commodore  Yeo  pursued  a  similar  policy  to  that  which  gov- 
erned him  the  preceding  summer.  As  long  as  he  was  mani- 
festly superior  in  force  to  Chauncey,  his  fleet  ruled  the  lake  ; 
but  nothing  could  induce  him  to  hazard  an  engagement,  when 
the  force  of  his  rival  was  nearly  equal  to  his.  During  that  part 
of  the  summer,  when  this  was  the  case,  he  lay  snug  in  King- 
ston harbour.  This  is  by  no  means  said  in  disparagement  of 
tiie  British  commander ;  for  every  circumstance  shows  that 
this  was  the  wisest  policy  ;  and  perhaps  the  only  one  which 
could  have  saved  Upper  Canada. 

On  the  5th  of  May  the  British  naval  force  under  Sir  James 
Lucas  Yeo,  consisting  of  four  large  ships,  three  brigs,  and  a 
number  of  gun  and  other  boats,  appeared  off*  the  village  of  Os- 
wego, having  on  board  seven  companies  of  infantry,  a  detach- 
ment of  artillery,  and  a  battalion  of  marines,  under  the  com- 
mand of  lieutenant-general  Drummond.  This  post  being  but 
occasionally,  and  not  recently  occupied  by  regular  troops,  was 
in  a  bad  state  of  defence.  It  was  garrisoned  by  about  300  re- 
gulars, under  lieutenant-colonel  Mitchell,  who  had  only  arriv- 
ed a  few  days  before.  Lieutenant  Woolsey  of  the  nivy,  with 
a  small  body  of  seamen,  was  also  at  the  village,  and  as  soon  as 
the  fleet  appeared,  the  neighbouring  militia  were  called  in. — 
About  1  o'clock  the  fleet  approached,  and  15  boats,  large  and 
crowded  with  troops,  at  a  given  signal  moved  slowly  to  the 
shore.  These  were  preceded  by  gun-boats,  aent  to  rake  the 
woods  and  cover  the  landing,  while  tJhe  larger  vessels  opened  i 
fire  upon  the  fort.  As  soon  as  the  debarking  boats  got  within 
range  of  the  shot  from  the  shore  batteries,  a  very  successful 
fire  opened  upon  them,  which  twice  compelled  them  to  retire. 
They  at  length  returned  to  the  ships,  and  thq  whole  stood  off 
from  the  shore  for  better  anchorage.  Several  boats  which  had 
been  deserted  by  the  enemy  were  taken  up  in  the  evening,  one 
of  which  was  60  feet  long,  carried  thirty-six  oars  and  three 
sails,  and  could  accommodate  1 50  men.  She  ha^  received  a 
ball  through  her  bow,  and  was  nearly  Allied  with  wsater. 

At  day-break  next  moming  the  fleet  appeared  bearing  up 
under  easy  sail,  and  about  noon  the  frigates  took  a  position  di- 
rectly against  the  fort  and  batteries,  and  opened  a  heavy  fire, 
which  was  kept  up  for  three  hours,  while  the  brigs,  schooners, 
aaui  gun-boats  covered  by  their  fire  the  debarkation  of  the  troops. 
The  Americans  were  now  forced  to  retreat  into  the  rear  of  the 
fort,  where  two  companies  met  the  advancing  columns  of  tlie 


144 


MWTOllY    OF  THE  WAR. 


enemy,  while  the  others  engaged  their  flanks.  Lieutenant 
Pcarce  of  the  navy  and  some  seamen,  joined  in  the  attack,  and' 
{ought  with  their  characteristic  bravery.  After  a  short  action, 
Mitchell  again  commenced  a  retreat,  which  was  effected  in 
good  order,  destroying  the  bridges  in  his  rear.  Indeed  a  retreat 
had  become  necessary  for  the  protection  of  the  stores  at  the 
falls  13  miles  in  the  rear  of  the  fort,  which  were  supposed  to 
form  the  principal  object  of  the  expedition. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  7th,  the  British  evacuated  the 
place,  and  retired  to  their  shipping,  after  destroying  the  fort 
and  those  public  stores  which  they  could  not  carry  away.  These 
stores  were  not  important,  the  most  valuable  having  been  dc- 
posited  at  the  falls. 

The  American  official  account  states  their  loss  at  6  killed, 
-38  wounded,  and  25  missing;  that  of  the  British  states  theirs 
at  19  killed  and  75  wounded.  Among  them  were  several  of- 
ficers. Mitchell  states  the  force  landed  at  1550  men,  while 
the  Americans  engaged  did  not  exceed  300,  being  4  compa- 
nies of  the  3d  artillery  under  captains  Boyle,  Romaync  M*In- 
tyre,  and  Pierce,  a  company  of  light  artillery  under  captain 
Melvin,  and  a  small  detachment  of  sailors  under  lieutenant 
Pearce  of  the  navy. 

A  short  time  after  this  event,  the  British  fleet  appeared  neap 
the  mouth  of  the  Gennesee  river,  where  about  1 60  volunteers 
were  stationed,  with  one  piece  of  artillery.  Captain  Stone,  the 
commanding  officer,  dispatched  expresses  for  assistance  to 
different  quarters.  The  following  day  the  commodo!-e's  new 
ship  came  to  anchor  off  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and  sent  an 
officer  on  shore  with  a  flag,  demanding  the  sin-render  of  the 
place,  and  promising  tb  respect  private  property  in  case  no  re- 
sistance should  be  made,  and  all  public  property  faithfully  dis- 
closed and  given  up.  General  Porter  arrived  while  the  flag 
was  on  shore,  and  returned  for  answer  that  the  place  would 
be  defended  to  the  last  extremity.  On  the  return  of  the  flag, 
two  gun-boats,  with  from  200  to  300  men  on  board,  advanced 
to  the  river,  which  is  about  a  mile  from  the  town  and  battery, 
and  commenced  a  heavy  cannonade,  directed  partly  to  the 
town,  and  partly  to  bt»dies  of  troops  who  had  been  placed  in 
ravines  near  the  mouth  of  the  river,  to  intercept  the  retreat  of 
the  gun-boats,  in  case  they  should  enter. 

At  the  expiration  of  an  hour  and  a  half,  during  which  time 
they  threw  a  great  number  of  rockets,  sheels,  and  shot  of  dif- 

.-'5-.iK     •a^..^^.iipli■^J^lo,     xiuiii     giapC     lU     OoluS.,   U     SCCOHa     Hrtg   WES 

sent  from  the  commodore's  ship,  requiring,  in  the  name  of  the 
comn\ander  of  the  forces,  m  immediate  surrender,  and  threats 


nnfoart  of  the  war. 


145 


lln?A9nn  *^;^^^"™a"d  ^as  not  complied  with,  he  would 
land  1200  regular  troops  and  4D0  Indians;  that  if  he  should 
lose  a  single  man,  he  would  raze  the  town  and  destroy  everv 
JnH  .f  M  P'^I^^^Y*  f"d  that  it  was  his  request  that  the  women 
and  children  might  be  immediately  removed,  as  he  eould  no 
be  accountable  for  the  conduct  of  the  Indians. ,  He  Xttold 
that  the  answer  to  his  demand  had  already  been  e^Ucit  ' 
given;  that  they  were  prepared  to  meet  hin[,  the  womenTnd 
children  havmg  been  disposed  of;  and  fthat  if  aiToXr  fla^ 

tTected  "The'V'"  '^""'^'V- 1— ^er,  it  would  not  bf 
protected.     1  he  flag  returned  with  the  gun-boats  to  the  fleet 
the  whole  of  which  came  to  anchor  about  a  mile  from  the  shore 

left  [he  pla'ci!'  ""''  '  °''^'''  ^"  ^^^"^'^^  "^«"-^'  -d^hS  ' 

On  _the  evening  of  the  following  day,  the   British  souadron 
was  discovered  making  towards  Pulteneyville,  anotl  ei  sma 
village  on  the  margin  of  lake  Ontario,  and  informa  ion  w' 

,XL    '^^n'r^n^l^''  ''^^  ^-P-ired  thither  in  the  course  ofThe 
"ight,  with  130  volunteers  and  militia.     Next  mornine- a  fli^ 
was  sent  on  shore    demanding  a  peaceable   suTendeLf  alf 
public  property,  and  threatening  an  immediate  destruith,n  of 
the  village  m  case  of  refusal.     General  Swift  returned  foi 
answer,  that  he  .hould  oppose  any  attempt  to  land, Tall  the 
means  m  his  power.     Soon  after  the  return  of  the  flap-   Ll 
ever,  general  Swift  was  induced,  by  the  presirsoUcUa^on^ 
and  entreaties  of  the  inhabitaiits  of\he  town,  t^^rn  U  ^^^^^^^ 
Its  citizens  to  go  to  the  enemy  with  a  flag,  and  offe^r  the  surren 
der  of  the  property  contained  in  a  store-house  at  tl  e  water^s 
edge,  consistmg  of  about  100  barrels  of  flour  coisiderablv 
damaged,  on  condition  that  the    commanding  o^e    would 
stipulate  not  to  take  any  otiicr,  nor  molest  fhe  hihabiTams^ 
But  before  its  return,  the  enemy  sent  their  gun-boats  with  se 
vera  hundred  men  on  shoi-e,  who  took  posslssion  of  th^flou; 
in  the  store,  and  weire  proceeding  to  further  depredation, 
when  general  Swift  commenced  a  fire  upon  them  f?om  an  i^I ' 
jacent  wood,  which  wounded  several,  and  became  so E-assint 
as  to  induce  them  to  re-embark.     They  theT  commenced  I 
cannonade  from  the  fleet  upon  the  townf  whic^i  waTTontinued 

tacnment  of  120  riflemen  and  a  fow  Oneida  warriors  under 

N  2 


14G 


HISTORV  OF  THE  WAM. 


the  command  of  major  Appling,  of  the  first  United  State  s  rifle 
legimcnt. 

Major  Appling  had  been  detached  to  protect  the  cannon  and 
naval  stores  at  Oswego,  destined  for  commodore  Chauncey's 
fleet.  They  were  embarked  on  board  a  flotilla  of  boats,  in 
charge  of  captain  Woolsey  of  the  navy,  and  had  arrived  safely 
in  Sandy  Creek.  Here  they  were  pursued  by  the  enemy  who 
was  gallantly  met  by  the  riflemen,  and  after  an  action  of  a  few 
minutes,  beaten  and  taken,  without  the  loss  of  a  man  ;  an  In- 
dian and  one  rifleman  only  being  wounded. 

The  riflemen  were  most  judiciously  posted  along  the  bank, 
a  short  distance  below  captain  Woolsey's  boats,  where  the 
creek  is  narrow  and  shoal.  Most  of  the  men  having  with- 
drawn from  the  boats,  the  enemy  gave  three  cheers  at  the 
prospect  of  the  rich  prize  before  him.  His  joy,  however,  was 
of  short  duration,  for  at  this  moment  the  riflemen  poured  forth 
their  deadly  fire,  which  in  about  ten  minutes  terminated  in  his 
total  defeat,  leaving  an  officer  and  1 3  men  killed,  two  officers 
and  28  me  A  wounded  (the  officers  and  many  of  the  men  dan- 
gerously); the  residue,  consisting  of  10  officers  and  133  men, 
taken  prisoners. 

Major  Appling  speaks  in  the  highest  t°rms  of  the  courage 
and  good  conduct  of  his  officers  and  inen.  Captain  Harris 
with  his  troop  of  dragoons,  and  captain  Melvin  with  his  two 
ilcld-pieces,  had  made  a  rapid  march,  and  would  in  a  few  mi- 
nutes have  been  ready  to  participate  in  the  action,  had  the  ene- 
my been  able  to  make  a  stand. 

The  captured  officers  and  men  spoke  in  the  highest  terms 
of  commendation  of  major  Appling  and  his  rifle  corps,  to 
whose  humane  and  spirited  conduct  they  are  probably  indebt- 
ed for  the  preservation  of  their  lives.  The  Indians  were  the 
first  to  reach  the  enemy  after  they  submitted,  and  had  com- 
menced executing  the  savage  rule  of  warfare,  sanctioned  by 
Anglo-Indian  example  at  the  river  Raisin,  Lcwistown,  Tusca- 
rora,  &c.  of  murdering  their  prisoners,  when  the  major  and 
his  men  happily  arrived,  and  succeeded,  by  a  prompt  and  de- 
termined course,  though  not  without  violence,  in  terminating 
the  tragic  scene.* 


*  A71  Indian  chief  is  said  to  have  given  vent  to  his  feelingi 
on  this  occasion  in  language  similar  to  the  folloiving:-^^^  When 
Sritip.h  come  to  Buffalo^  theu  kill  ivhite  man^  tkev  kill  Indian^ 
they  kill  ivoman^  they  burn  all  houses — ivhen  British  come  herc^ 
you  no  k(  Indian  kill  him — you  give  him  eut'—this  no  good." 


HXfiTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


ur 


d  State  s  rifle 

,e  cannon  and 
Chauncey's 
of  boats,  in 
irrived  safely 
)  enemy  who 
tion  of  a  few 
man ;  an  lu- 
ng the  bank, 
I,  where  the 
having  with- 
heers  at  the 
[lowever,  was 
poured  forth 
linated  in  his 
,  two  officers 
the  men  dan- 
and  133  men, 

'  the  courage 
iptain  Harris 
with  his  two 
i  in  a  few  mi- 
,  had  the  ene- 

ighest  terms 
.fie  corps,  to 
ibably  indebt- 
ans  were  the 
ind  had  com- 
lanctioned  by 
itown,  Tusca- 
he  major  and 
ompt  and  de- 
n  terminating 


0  his  feelingi 
Ing: — «  When 
V  kill  Indian, 
ish  come  hefe^ 
'.s  no  ,go<}d'* 


No  further  events  took  place  on  this  lake  during  the  war 
worth  recording,  excepting  the  capture  and  destruction  of  a 
gun-boat  at  the  head  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  the  burning  of 
a  vessel  of  war  on  the  stocks  at  Presque  Isle.  Both  these  ex- 
ploits were  performed  by  lieutenant  Gregory. 

Nothing  of  importance  took  place  on  lake  Erie.  The  only- 
hostile  event  that  c  ccurred  was  the  destruction  of  some  mills 
employed  in  manufacturing  flour  for  the  British  army,  at  Long 
Pomt,  by  colonel  'Campbell,  with  a  detachment  of  500  or  600 
men  from  Erie.  T  he  mills  and  some  houses  occupied  as  stores 
were  burned.  About  50  dragoons  stationed  there  as  a  guard 
made  their  escape,  when  the  party  returned  without  losing  ^ 
man.  This  even .,  which  was  certainly  not  strictly  justified  by 
the  laws  of  war,  tiiough  sanctioned  by  the  practice  of  the  ene- 
my, was  an  unau  horised  act  on  the  part  of  colonel  Campbell 
A  court  of  enqi  iry  was  held  on  his  conduct,  whose  opinion 
was  unanimously  pronounced  as  follows: 

"That,  consid:; ring  the  important  supplies  of  bread-stuff's, 
which  from  the  evidence  it  appears  the  enemy's  forces  derived 
from  the  flour-ir  anufacturing  mills  at  and  near  to  Dover,  colo- 
nel Campbell  was  warranted  in  destroying  those  mills,  accord- 
ing to  the  laws  ;  .nd  usages  of  war,  and,  for  a  like  reason,  the 
court  think  him  justified  in  burning  the  distilleries  under  the 
said  laws  and  u  ,ages.  The  saw-mills  and  carding  machine 
from  their  contiguity  to  the  other  mills,  were,  as  the  court 
conceives,  nece  isarily  involved  in  one  and  the  same  burning 

"  In  respect  i.o  ihe  burning  of  the  dwelling  and  other  houses 
in  the  village  ol,  Dover,  the  court  are  fully  of  opinion  that  colo- 
nel Campbell  las  erred;  that  he  can  derive  no  justification 
from  the  fact,  hat  the  owners  of  these  houses  were  actively 
opposed  to  the  American  interests  in  the  present  war,orfr(Jm 
the  other  facts,  that  some  of  them  Avere  at  the  conflagration  of 
Bui.alo.  In  their  partizan  services  it  does  not  appear  to  the 
court,  that  the  inhabitants  of  Dover  have  done  more  than  their 
proper  allegiance  required  of  them;  and  the  destruction  of 
Buffalo,  by  a  1  .eutenant-general  of  the  enemy's  regular  forces 
was  emphaticf.lly  the  wrong  of  the  British  government  itself! 
rendered  such  by  its  subsequent  adoption  of  the  measure,  and 
ought  not  to  be  ascribed  to  a  few  Canadians  who  were  present 
at  the  time. 

«  Acts  of  retaliation,  on  the  part  of  a  nation  proud  of  its 
rights,  and  conscious  of  the  power  of  enforcing  hem,  should, 
1  u""'  ~* — ,,,.v,  .^v  t'^iu^-vaiiLxy  icsuitcu  icj,  ana  on- 
ly by  instructions  from  the  highest  in  authority.  That  no  such 
instructions  were  given  in  the  case  under  consideration,  is  not 


1: 


1-48 


HISTORY   or  THE  WAR. 


increly  inferred  from  the  absence  of  evidence  to  that  cffcci 
but  18  candidly  admitted  by  colonel  Campbell  in  his  official  re- 
port (which  IS  in  evidence),  wherein  he  expressly  states— 

i  his  expedition  was  undertaken  by  me  without  orders,  and 
upon  my  own  responsibility.' 

«  The  court,  in  delivering  the  above  opinion  unfavourable  to 
colonel  Campbell,  are  fully  aware  of  the  strong  incentives  to  a 
just  indignation  which  must  have  been  present  to  his  mind  at 
the  time  of  this  visit  to  Dover— the  massacres  of  the  Raisin 
and  the  Miami  were  not  yet  forgotten,  and  the  more  recciu 
devastation  of  the  entire  Niagara  frontier,  accompanied  by 
many  acts  of  savage  barbarity,  m^s  fresh  in  remembrance 
Ihat  these  recollections  should  have  aroused  his  feelintjs  and 
have  swayed  his  judgment,  does  not  excite  wonder  but  reerot, 
and  there  is  still  left  for  admiration  his  kind  and  amiable  treat- 
ment ot  the  women  and  children  of  Dover,  abandoned  by  their 
natural  protectors."  J        '' 

Meanwhile  general  Brovvn  was  accupied  in  colleetinir  and 
disciplmmg  his  forces,  and  preparing  for  the  invasion  of  Canada. 
On  the  evening  of  the  2d  of  July,  general  orders  were  issued 
ior  the  emba-kation  ot  the  troops  by  day-light  next  moniino:, 
when  the  army,  consisting  of  two  brigades,  and  a  body  of  New- 
York  and  Pennsylvania  volunteers  and  Indians,  under  general 
F.  B.  Porter,  were   landed  on  the  opposite  shore,  without  op- 
position.    1  he  first  brigade,  under  general  Scott,  and  the  ar- 
tilleiy  corps,  uiidcr  major  Hindman,  landed  nearly  a  mile  be- 
low Fort  Jirie,  while  general  Ripley,  uith  the  second  britjade, 
made  the  shore  about  die  same  distance  above.     The  fort  was 
soon  completely  invested,  and  a  battery  of  long  eighteens  beine 
planted  in  a  position  which  commanded  it,  the  garrison,  con- 
sistmg  of  137  men,  including  officers,  surrendered  prisoners 
ot  war.     Several  pieces  of  ordnance  were  found  in  the  fort 
and  some  military  stores.  ' 

Having  placed  a  small  garrison  in  For.t  Erie  to  secure  his 
rear.  Brown  moved  forward  the  following  day  to  Chippewa 
plains,  where  he  encamped  for  the  night,  after  some  skirmish- 
mg  with  the  enemy. 

The  American  pickets  were  several  times  attacked  on  the 
mormng  of  the  5th,  by  small  parties  of  the  British.  About 
tour  in  the  afternoon,  general  Porter,  with  the  volunteers  and 
Indians,  was  ordered  to  advance  from  the  rear  of  the  Ameri- 
can camp,  and  take  a  circuit  through  the  woods  to  the  left,  in 
hopes  of  e-ettino-  hi^vnnH  fVi*»  ci-;t<im;.K;^~  ^„..4.:„„  ^r  ^i 

and  cutting  oti  their  retreat,  and  to  favour  this  purpose  the 
advance  wer&  ordered  to  fall  back  gr  .dually  under  the  enemy's 


HISXORT  OF  THE  WAIl. 


U9 


fire.  In  about  half  an  hour,  however,  Porter's  advance  met 
the  light  parties  in  the  woods,  and  drove  them  until  the  whole 
column  oi  the  British  was  met  in  order  of  battle.  From  the 
clouds  of  dust  and  the  heavy  firing,  general  Brown  concluded 
that  the  entire  force  of  the  Britishr  was  in  motion,  and  instant- 
ly gave  orders  for  general  Scott  io  advance  with  his  brigade 
and  Towson's  artillery,  and  meet  them  on  the  plain  in  front  of 
the  American  camp.  In  a  few  minutes  Scott  was  in  close  ac- 
tion with  a  superior  force  of  British  regulars. 

By  this  time  Porter's  volunteers  having  given  way  and  fled, 
the  left  flank  of  Scott's  brigade  became  much  exposed.  Gen- 
eral Ripley  was  accordingly  ordered  to  advance  with  a  part 
ot  the  reserve,  and  skirting  the  woods  on  the  left,  in  order  to 
keep  out  oi  view,  endeavour  to  gain  the  rear  of  the  enemy's 
right  flank.  The  greatest  exertions  were  made  to  gain  this 
position  but  in  vain.  Such  was  the  galantry  and  impetuosity  of 
the  brigade  of  general  Scott,  that  its  advance  upon  the  enemy 
was  not  to  be  checked.  Major  Jessup,  commanding  the  bat- 
talion on'the  left  flank,  finding  himself  pressed  both  in  front 
and  m  flan»v,  and  his  men  falling  fast  around  him,  ordered  his 
battalion  io  «  support  arms  and  advance."  Amidst  the  most 
destructive  fire  this  oider  was  pmmptly  obeyed,  and  he  soon 
gained  a  more  secure  position,  and  returned  upon  the  enemy  so 
galling  a  discharge,  as  caused  them  to  retire. 

The  whole  line  of  the  British  now  fell  back,  and  the  Ameri- 
can troops  closely  pressed  upon  them.  As  soon  as  the  former 
gained  the  sloping  ground  descending  towards  Chippewa, 
they  broke  and  ran  to  their  works,  distant  about  a  quarter  of  a 
jnile,  and  the  batteries  opening  on  the  American  line,  consider- 
ably checked  the  pursuit.  Brown  now  ordered  the  ordnance 
to  be  brought  up,  with  the  intention  of  forcing  the  works.  But 
on  heir  bemg  examined,  he  was  induced,  by  the  luteness  of 
tlie  hour,  and  the  advice  of  his  officers,  to  order  the  forces  to 
retire  to  camp. 

The  American  official  account  states  their  loss  at  60  killed, 

t^.  o'!'',"'!?^?'  ^^  ^^  missing.  The  British  officially  state  theirs 
at  133  killed,  320  wounded,  and  46  missing. 

Dispirited  as  was  the  public  mind  at  this  period,  the  intelli- 
gence of  this  brilliant  and  unexpected  opening  of  the  campaign 
on  the  Niagara  could  not  fail  of  bemg  most  joyftilly  received. 
1  he  total  overthrow  of  the  French  power  had  a  few  months  be- 
tore  liberated  the  whole  of  the  British  forces  in  Europe.  A 
consiucrabie  pot  tioii  of  iord  Wellington's  army,  flushed  with 
tneirlate  successes  in  Spain,  had  arrived  in  Canada,  and  were 
actually  opposed  to  Brown  at  Chippewa,  while  all  our  maritime 


l50 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


r.l. 


mi 


towns  were  threatened  by  Britain's  victorious  armies,  w^jfise 
urrival  was  momentarily  expected  on  the  coast.  When  the  in- 
telligence of  the  stupendous  events  in  Europe  was  first  receiv- 
cd,  many  consoled  themselves  with  the  idea,  that  the  magnan- 
imity of  Great  Britain  would,  freely  grant  in  her  prosperity, 
what  they  had  insisted  we  liever  could  force  from  her  in  her 
adversity.  Sincerely  taking  for  realities  the  pretexts  on  which 
our  neutral  rights  had  been  infringed,  they  thought  the  ques- 
tion of  impressment  now  the  almost  single  subject  of  dispute, 
could  easily  be  amicably  arranged,  when  the  affairs  of  the  world 
were  so  altered  as  to  render  it  nearly  impossible  that  Great 
Britain  could  ever  again  be  reduced  to  the  necessity  of'*  fight- 
mg  for  her  existence;  or,  at  all  events,  as  the  peace  in  Europe 
had  effectually  removed  the  cause,  and  as  the  American  gov- 
ernment declined  insisting  on  a  formal  relinquishme;it  of  the'' 
practice,  no  difficulty  would  be  thrown  in  the  way  of  a  general 
and  coniplete  pacification  of  the  world. 

This  illusion  was  soon  dissipated.  By  the  next  advices  from 
Europe  it  was  learned,  that  the  cry  for  vengeance  upon  the 
Americans  was  almost  unanimous  throughout  the  British  em- 
pire. The  president  was  threatened  with^the  fate  of  Bonaparte, 
and  it  was  said  that  the  American  peace  ought  to  be  dictated 
in  Washington,  as  that  of  Europe  had  been  at  Paris.  Even 
in  parliament*  the  idea  was  held  out  that  peace  ought  not  to 
be  thought  of  till  America  had  received  a  signal  punishment, 
for  having  dared  to  declare  war  upon  them  while  their  forces 
were  engaged  in  "delivering  Europe"  from,  its  oppressorf. 
The  commencement  of  the  negociations  for  peace,  which  had 
been  proposed  by  the  British  court,  was  suspended,  and  stren- 
uous efforts  were  made  to  send  to  America  as  commanding  a 
force  as  possible. 

Under  these  circumstances,  a  victory  gained  by  the  raw 


Sir  Joae/ih  Yorke,  one  of  the  lords  of  the  admirality,  said 
in  fiarliament,  «  we  have  Mr.  Madison  to  depose  before  we  can 
lay  down  our  arms." 

\  M  a  dinner  given  to  lord  Hill^  who  was  on  the  eve  of  sail- 
ing at  the  head  of  an  expedition  against  New-Orleans.,  he  stated 
the  period  when  he  should  embark  for  America^  and  added,  that 
"  Ae  had  no  doubt,  with  the  means  already  there,  together  with 
those  on  the  way,  and  what  were  promised  by  his  prince,  he 

should  humble  the    YanlcPPa.    and    hrintr    thf  rn-ntcst  fn  n    ahcpdu 

-  '  *-»  A  J 

and  u  ccessful  termination."     Happy  for  his  lordship  he  was- 
soon  after  superseded  in  the  command  by  general  Peckenham^ 


ser. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


151 


troops  of  America  over  the  veterans  of  Wellington,  superior 
HI  numbers  to  the  victors,*  upon  an  open  plain,  and  upon  a 
spot  chosen  by  the  British  gn/eral,  ha/a  mJst  b;neficiren- 
dency,  by  dispelling  the  dread  which  the  prowess  of  the  Bri- 
ish  troops  m  Spain  could  not  have  failed  to  have  produced Tiv 
d?..  th  "^^  ^[  their  opponents.  This  battle  was  to  the  aJmy 
what  the  victory  of  captain  Hull  had  been  to  the  navy  S 
the  confidence  which  it  thus  inspired  was  surely  most  iust^v 
fi^unded,  for  every  man  felt  that\he  victory  had  been VCed 
by  superior  skill  and  discipline  :  it  was  not  the  fruit  of  ^y  ac- 
cidental  mistake  or  confusion  in  the  army  of  the  enemy?or  of 
cxdt'em'eiu  onT:'".?^^  of  temporary  p'anic  on  one  s'lde,  or 
f^Z  ?  ^"^  ^^^  ''^^'^'''  ^^^^^  sometimes  give  a  victory  to 
in  egular  courage  over  veteran  and  disciplined  valour 

■hazar7.nn.hr^^  ""  ^^^^^''  '^^  ^"'*^'*  could  not  be  induced  to 
C MniL  S l"e^e^"^^n'-  They  abandoned  their  works  at 
and^orr  ^^^"»"g  their  barracks,  retired  to  fort  Niagara 
Tected  to  ,3''  P^«^^»>:-^«»°^^d  by  Brown.  Here  he^ex- 
Sacketf!  wf  ^  T^  ^^^:!y  S""'  ^"^  reinforcements  from 
bv  cxnrA.  r  "' '  ^""^  ?"r.^^.^  ^^^  °^  ^"'y  ^^  ^^^^i^^d  a  letter 
was  Work  JT,  ^'"^'^^  ^^'"'''  ^^^^^^"^  ^i"*  that  that  port 
aoi  e  Chauncey  was  confined  to  his  bed  with  a  fever.  Thus  dis- 
for^ts'al.'"  ^"^f  ^P/^tations  of  being  enabled  to  reduce  the 

^icumbe  th?''  °*  r\'  ^''^''"'  ^^^'"  determined  to  dis- 
lin^f^  H  the  army  of  baggage,  and  march  directly  for  Bur- 
hng  on  Heights  To  mask  this  intention,  and  to  draw  from 
Schbsser  a  small  supply  of  provisions,  he  fdl  back  upon  CM^- 

Pv^,!i''"V"°°"T°''  ^^^  ^^t^'  B:eneral  Brown  was  advised  by  an 
expiess  from  Lewistown,  that  the  British  were  following  him, 

hlZ"" tZT^'^'T'^''  ^°''^^"^  Queenstown  and  L  hs 
nugius  ,  that  four  of  the  enemy's  fleet  had  arrived  with  re- 

tumb'r^^tf^  the  preceding  night,  and  that 

y  attei,  intelligence  was  brought  that  the  enemy  were  land- 

S  ^,\.7^^'t,^^"'  ^»d  that  the  baggage  and  stores  at  Schlos- 

^ei,.aiid  on  their  way  thither,  were  in  danger  of  immediate 

^  *  The  British  official  accounts  state  the  American  forces  to 
-^^'^  been  suficrior  in  number.  This  afifiarent  contradiction 
■nay  be  reconciled  by  observing,  that  a  single  brigade  of  the 
fl  ^  A  f  '  "'''"'  "^"-'^-c"  '^"c  -uiciory  i  me  votunieers  having 
fJL  .J  '''^'''''  commenced,  'while  the  brigade  of  general 
^i/iley  had  arrived  on  the  ground,  nvhen  the  British  took  sheU 
'^r  behind  their  %vorks 


U2 


HISTORY   or  TIIK  WAH. 


!i^ 


capture.  In  order  to  recal  the  British  frotn  this  objeci, 
Brown  determined  to  put  the  arnly  in  motion  towards  Queens- 
town,  and  accordingly  general  Scott  was  directed  to  advance 
with  the  first  brigade,  Towson's  artillery,  and  all  the  dragoons 
and  mounted  men,  with  orders  to  report  if  the  enemy  appear- 
ed, and  if  necessary  to  call  for  assistance.  On  his  arrival  near 
the  falls,  Scott  learned  that  the  enemy  was  in  force  directly 
in  his  front,  a  narrow  piece  of  woods  alone  intercepting  his 
view  of  them.  He  immediately  advanced  upon  them,  after 
dispatching  a  messenger  to  general  Brown  with  this  intelli- 
gence. 

The  report  of  the  connon  and  small  arms  reached  general 
Brown  before  the  messenger,  and  orders  were  instantly  issued 
for  general  Ripley  to  march  to  the  support  of  general  Scott, 
with  the  second  brigade  and  all  the  artillery,  and  Brown  him- 
self repaired  within  speed  to  the  scene  of  action,  whence  he 
sent  orders  for  general  Porter  to  advance  with  his  volunteers. 
On  reaching  the  field  of  battle,  general  Brown  found  that 
Scott  had,  passed  the  wood,  and  engaged  the  enemy  on  the 
Queenstown  road  and  on  the  ground  to  the  left  of  it,  with  the 
9th,  11th,  and  22d  regiments,  and  Towson's  artillery,  the 
25th  having  been  thrown  on  the  right  to  be  governed  by  cir- 
cumstances. The  contest  was  close  and  desparate,  and  the 
American  troops,  far  inferior  in  numbers,  suffered  severely. 

Meanwhile  major  Jessup,  who  commanded  the  25th  regi- 
ment, taking  advantage  of  a  fault  committed  by  the  British 
commander,  by  leaving  a  road  unguarded  on  his  left,  threw 
himself  promptly  into  the  rear  of  the  enemy,  where  he  was 
enabled  to  operate  with  the  happiest  effect.  The  slaughter 
was  dreadful ;  the  enemy's  line  fled  down  the  road  at  the  third 
or  fourth  fire.  The  capture  of  general  Riall,  with  a  large  es- 
cort of  officers  of  rank,  was  part  of  the  trophies  of  Jessup's 
intrepidity  and  skill ;  and,  but  for  the  impression  of  an  un- 
founded report^  under  which  he  unfortunately  remained  for  a 
few  minutes,  lieutenant  general  Drummond,  the  commander 
of  the  British  forces,  would  inevitably  have  fallen  into  his 
hands,  an  event  which  would,  in  all  probability,  have  comple- 
ted the  disaster  of  the  British  army.  Drummond  was  com- 
pletely in  Jessup's  iK)wer;  but  being  confidently  informed  that 
the  first  brigade  was  cut  in  pieces,  and  finding  himself  with 
less  than  200  men,  and  without  any  prospect  of  support,  in 
the  midst  of  an  overwhelming  hostile  force,  he  thought  of  no- 
thing, for  the  moment,  but  to  make  good  his  retreat,  and  save 
his  command.  Of  this  temporary  suspense  of  the  advance 
of  the  American  column,  general  Drummond  availed  himself 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


15; 


this  objeti, 
irds  Queens- 
1  to  advance 
:he  dragoons 
emy  appear- 
arrival  near 
•rce  directly 
rcepting  his 
them,  after 
this  intelli* 

;hed  general 
tantly  issued 
meral  Scott, 
Brown  him- 
,  whence  he 
i  volunteers. 
I  found  that 
emy  on  the 
it,  with  the 
rtillery,  the 
rned  by  cir- 
ite,  and  the 
;d  severely, 
e  25th  regi- 
the  British 
i  left,  threw 
here  he  was 
le  slaughter 
[  at  the  third 
1  a  large  es- 
of  Jessup's 
n  of  an  un- 
nained  for  a 
commander 
len  into  his 
ave  comple- 
id  was  com- 
iformed  that 
limself  with 
support,  in 
3Ught  of  no- 
iat,  and  save 
the  advance 
liled  himself 


to  make  us  escape.  Among  the  officers  captured,  was  one 
of  general  Drummond's  aids-de-camp,  who  had  been  dispatch- 
ed trom  the  front  line  to  order  up  the  reserve,  with  a  view  to 
lall  on  Scott  with  the  concentrated  force  of  the  whole  armv 
and  overwhelm  him  at  a  single  effort.  Nor  would  it  have 
been  possible  to  prevent  this  catastrophe,  had  the  reserve  ar- 
rived m  time  ;  the  force  with  which  general  Scott  would  then 
have  been  obliged  to  contend  being  nearly  quadruple  that  of 
Ins  own.  By  the  fortunate  capture,  however,  of  the  British 
aid-de-camp,  before  the  completion  of  the  service  on  which  he 
had  been  ordered,  the  enemy's  reserve  was  not  brout^ht  into 
action,  until  the  arrival  of  general  Ripley's  brigade,  which 
prevented  the  disaster  which  must  otherwise  have  ensued* 

1  hough  the  second  brigade  pressed  forward  with  the  ercat- 
est  ardour,  the  battle  had  raged  for  an  hour  before  it  could  ar- 
rive on  the  field,  by  which  time  it  was  nearly  dark.  The  en 
emy  fell  back  on  its  approach.  In  order  to  disengat?e  the  e'x- 
hausted  troops  of  the  first  brigade,  the  fre.a  troops  were  or- 
dered  to  pass  Scott's  line,  and  display  in  front,  a  movement 
which  was  immediately  executed  by  Ripley.  Meanwhile  the 
enemy,  being  reconnoitered,  was  found  to  have  taken  a  new 
position,  and  occupied  a  height  with  his  artillery,  supported  bv 
a  line  of  infantry,  which  gave  Hm  great  advantages,  it  being 


«  Strait  in  his  conduct  highly  honorable  to  colonel  Jes.uh 
i>,  that  his  humanity  as  a  man  trium/ihed  over  his  technical 
duty  as  an  officer.  Such  nvas,  for  a  time,  his  situation  in  the 
Jidd,  that  every  prisoner  he  took,  by  impeding  his  operations 
against  the  enemy,  not  only  injured  the  cause  in  which  he  was 
engaged,  but  endangered  the  safety  of  his  osvn  cor/is.  Ac- 
cordmg  to  the  canons  of,,ar,  therefore,  his  duty,  as  we  believe, 

To';.  Z"'"^"'r^'''''°"'''*'  *"'  '°^^"^  '^  ^'^'f'  ^^'^y  ^nan  who 
might  opfiose  him  in  arms.  Regardless,  however,  of  these  san- 
guinary statutes,  and  listening  only  to  the  voice  of  merry,  he 
gave  quarter  to  all  that  surrendered  to  him,  although  conscious 
they  would  diminish  his  effective  force,  and  that  he  must  necessa- 

nrn'^n  T  "£''''' '°  '''''^'''  ^^'''  '"""duct  was  noticed  by  some 
q/  the  British  officers,  and  commended  as  highly  honorable  to 
the  young  American.  HadJessufi  beenless  humane  as  a  man,  and 
more  technically  rigid  as  an  officer,  he  might  have  acted,  as  the 
rf  W/ 'T^'  -^  ^'"'''"^  ^^"-^""'^^^'d  acknowledged,  with  more 
tf,^  %T  l^'"'''  '^''  ^"^'"y-  ^"^  ^^^  i^new  the  road  to  glory 
-■  ,...  lacjaircst  wreath  in  the  hero's  chafilet  is  that  which 
r^  entwined  by  the  hand  of  mercy."— Fort  Folio 

O 


164 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


the  key  to  the  whole  position.  To  secure  the  victory,  it  was 
necessary  to  carry  his  artillciy  and  seize  the  height.  For  this 
purpose  the  second  brigade  advanced  upon  the  Queenstown 
road,  and  tho  first  regiment  of  infantry,  which  had  arrived 
that  day,  and  was  attached  to  neither  of  the  brigades,  was 
formed  in  a  line  facing  the  enemy's  on  the  height,  with  a  view 
of  drawing  his  fire  and  attractinp-  his  attention,  as  the  second 
brigade  advanced  on  his  left  flank  to  carry  his  artillery. 

As  soon  as  the  first  regiment  approached  its  position,  colo- 
nel Miller  was  ordered  to  advance  with  the  21st  regiment,  and 
carry  the  artillery  on  the  height  by  the  bayonet.  The  first 
regiment  gave  way  under  the  fire  of  the  enemy ;  but  Miller, 
undaunted  by  this  occurrence,  advanced  steadily  and  gallantly 
to  his  object,  and  carried  the  heights  and  cannon  in  a  masterly 
style.  General  Ripley  followed  on  the  right  with  the  23d  re- 
giment. It  had  some  desperate  fighting,  which  caused  it  to 
faulter,  but  it  was  promptly  rallied,  and  brought  up. 

The  enemy  being  now  driven  from  their  commanding 
ground,  the  whole  brigade,  with  the  volunteers  and  artillery, 
and  the  first  regiment,  which  had  been  rallied,  were  formed  in 
line,  with  the  captured  cannon,  nine  pieces,  in  the  rear.  Here 
they  were  soon  joined  by  major  Jessup,  with  the  25th,  the  re- 
giment that  had  acted  with  such  effect  in  the  rear  of  the  ene- 
my's left.  In  this  situation  the  American  troops  withstood 
three  distinct  desperate  attacks  of  the  enemy,  who  had  rallied 
his  broken  corps,  and  received  reinforcements.  In  each  of 
them  he  was  repulsed  with  great  slaughter,  so  near  being  his 
approach,  that  the  buttons  of  the  men  were  distinctly  seen 
through  the  darkness  by  the  flash  of  the  muskets,  and  many 
prisoners  were  taken  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  principally 
by  Porter's  volunteers."  During  the  second  attack  general 
Scott  was  ordered  up,  who  had  been  held  in  reserve  with  three 
of  his  battalions,  from  the  moment  of  Ripley's  arrival  on  the 
field.  During  the  third  efl"ort  of  the  enemy,  the  direction  of 
Scott's  column  would  have  enabled  him,  in  a  few  minutes,  to 
have  formed  line  in  the  rear  of  the  enemy's  right,  and  thus 
have  brought  him  between  two  fires.  But  a  flank  fire  from  a 
concealed  part  of  the  enemy  failing  upon  the  centre  of  Scott's 
command,  completely  frustrated  this  intention.  His  column 
was  severed  in  two;  one  part  passing  to  the  rear,  the  other  by 
the  right  flank  of  platoons  towards  Ripley's  main  line. 

This  was  the  last  effort  of  the  British  to  regain  his  position 
.^.nd  artillery,  the  Amt/ican  troops  being  left  in  quiet  posses- 
tsion  of  the  held.  It  was  now  nearly  midnight,  and  generals 
Brown  and  Scott  being  both  severely  wounded,  and  alt  tho 


)ry,  it  was 
For  this 
leenstown 
Lcl  arrived 
ades,  was 
ith  a  view 
he  second 
ary. 

tion,  colo- 
iment,  and 
The  first 
ut  Miller, 
1  gallantly 
I  masterly 
le  23d  re- 
used it  to 

nmanding 
artillery, 
formed  in 
jar.  Here 
th,  the  re- 
f  the  ene- 
withstood 
lad  rallied 
1  each  of 
being  his 
ictly  seen 
and  many 
(rincipally 
Ic  general 
vith  three 
al  on  the 
rection  of 
dnutes,  to 
and  thus 
ire  from  a 
of  Scott's 
s  column 
;  other  by 

a 

s  position 
it  posses- 
.  generals 
d  alt  the 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


155 


iroops,  much  exhausted,  the  command  was  given  to  general 
Ripley,  and  he  was  instructed  to  return  to  camp,  bringing  with 
him  the  wounded  and  the  artillery.  The  pieces,  however, 
were  found  in  so  dismantled  a  state,  and  such  had  been  the 
slaughter  of  the  horses,  that  to  remove  them  at  that  late  hour 
was  found  to  be  impracticable. 

On  the  return  of  the  troops  to  camp,  general  Brown  sent 
lor  general  Ripley,  and  after  giving  him  his  reasons  for  the 
measure,  ordered  him  to  put  the  troops  into  the  best  possible 
condition  ;  to  give  to  them  the  necessary  refreshment;  to  take 
with  him  the  picquets  and  camp  guards,  and  every  other  de- 
scription of  force;  to  put  himself  on  the  field  of  battle  as  the 
day  dawned,  and  there  meet  and  beat  the  enemy  if  he  again 
appeared. 

Genei-aJ  Ripley  has  been  much  blamed  for  the  non-execu- 
l-ion  of  this  order,  by  which  the  captured  cannon  again  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  British.  General  Brown,  in  his  official  report, 
says,  "  To  this  order  he  [Ripley]  made  no  objection,  and  I  re- 
lied upon  its  execution.  It  was  not  executed."  On  the  part 
of  general  Ripley  it  is  stated,  that  his  orders  were,  in  case  the 
enemy  appeared  in  force,  "  to  be  governed  entirely  by  circum- 
stances." His  orders,  therefore,  were  executed.  At  day- 
break the  army  was  arranged,  and  the  march  commenced, 
when  circumstances  of  the  most  positive  nature  were  made  ap- 
parent, such  as  must  have  been  in  view  in  the  discretionary 
part  of  the  order,  and  in  the  full  effect  of  which  general  Ripley 
commenced  and  effected  the  retreat  which  afterwards  led  him 
to  Fort  Erie.  The  troops  reduced  to  less  than  1 600  men,  were 
marched  on  the  26th  by  general  Ripley  toward  the  field  of 
battle.  Motion  was  commenced  at  day-break,  but  difficulties 
incidental  to  the  late  losses  prevented  the  advance  before  some 
time  had  been  spent  in  re-organization  and  arrangement.  The 
line  of  march  being  assumed,  and  the  Chippewa  crossed,  gen- 
eral Ripley  sent  forward  lieutenants  Tappan  of  the  23d,  and 
Riddle  of  the  1 5th,  with  their  respective  commands,  to  recon- 
noitre the  enemy's  position,  strength,  and  movements.  On 
examination,  he  was  found  in  advance  of  his  former  position 
on  an  eminence,  strongly  reinforced,  as  had  been  asserted  by 
prisoners  taken  the  preceding  evening;  his  flanks,  resting  on 
a  wood  on  one  side,  and  on  the  river  on  the  other,  defied  b'eine- 
turned  or  driven  in;  his  artillery  was  planted  so  as  to  sweep 
the  road;  besides  these  advaiita-ffes^  he  extended  a  line  nf  ^rlv 
double  in  length  to  that  which  co"uld  be  displayed  by  our  troops 
To  attack  with  two-thirds  the  force  of  the  preceding  evening 
an  enemy  thus  increased,  was  an«ct  of  madness  that  the  first 


1^6 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


thought  rejected.  The  army  was  kept  in  the  field  and  in  mo- 
tion long  enough  to  be  assured  of  the  strength  and  position  of 
the  enemy;  that  information  being  confirmed,  there  remained 
but  one  course  to  prevent  that  enemy  from  impeding  a  retreat, 
which,  had  he  been  vigilant,  he  would  previously  have  pre- 
vented. The  army,  therefore,  immediately  retrograded,  and 
the  retreat  received  the  sanction  of  general  Brown,  previous 
to  his  crossing  the  Niagara.* 

The  American  official  account  states  their  loss  in  this  battle 
at  iri  killed,  572  wounded,  and  117  missing;  the  return  of 
British  prisoners  presents  an  aggregate  of  179,  including  ma- 
jor-general Riall,  and  a  number  of  other  officers.— The  British 
state  their  loss  to  be  84  killed,  559  wounded,  193  missing: 
their  loss  in  prisoners  they  stated  only  at  41.  Major-general 
Brown  and  brigadier-general  Scott  were  among  the  wounded 
of  the  Americans,  and  lieutenant-general  Drummond  and  ma- 
jor-general Riall  among  those  of  the  British. 

In  conscfjuence  of  the  wounds  of  generals  Brown  and  Scott, 
the  command  devolved  on  general  Ripley,  who  pursued  his 
retreat  acxoss  the  Chippewa,  destroying  the  bidges  in  his  rear, 
and  throwing  every  possible  impediment  in  the  way  of  the  ene- 
my; in  order  to  obstruct  his  advance.  On  the  27th  of  July,  the 
army  reached  Fort  Erie.  Here  it  was  determined  to  make  a 
.stand,  and  accordingly  the  lines  of  defence  and  fortification 
were  immediately  marked  out,  and  by  the  unremitted  exertions 
of  the  army,  were  completed  on  the  3d  of  August,  the  very  day 
of  the  arrival  of  the  enemy  before  them. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  3d,  an  attempt  was  made  to 
surprise  Buffalo,  with  the  intention,  it  is  supposed,  of  re-cap- 
turing general  Riall,  and  other  British  prisoners  there,  and  de- 
stroying the  public  stores.  About  2  in  the  morning,  nine 
boat-loads  of  troops  were  landed  on  the  American  side,  half  a 
mile  below  Conjocta  creek,  on  the  upper  bank  of  which,  sus- 
pect! ig  their  intention,  major  Morgan  had  taken  a  position 
with  a  battalion  of  the  first  rifle  regiment,  consisting  of  240 
men.  Here,  during  the  preceding  night,  he  had  thrown  up  a 
battery  of  a  few  logs,  and  torn  away  the  bridge.  About  four 
o'clock  the  British  commenced  the  attack,  sending  a  party  b*^* 
fore  to  repair  the  bridge,  under  cover  of  their  fire.  So  heavy 
and  deadly,  however,  was  the  fire  opened  by  the  riflemen,  that 
they  were  compelled  to  retire.  They  then  formed  in  the  skirt 
of  the  wood,  and  kept  up  the  fight  at  long  shot,  continually  re- 


Port  Folioy  Memoir  of  Major  General  Ripleij, 


and  in  mo- 
position  of 
e  remained 
g  a  retreat, 
have  prc- 
raded,  and 
I,  previous 

this  battle 
!  return  of 
luding  ma- 
"he  British 
3  missing: 
jor-general 
e  wounded 
id  and  ma- 

and  Scott, 
ursued  his 
in  his  rear, 
of  the  ene- 
)f  July,  the 

to  make  a 
ortification 
i  exertions 
e  very  day 

s  made  to 
of  re-cap- 
re,  and  de- 
iiing,  nine 
iide,  half  a 
hich,  sus- 
a  position 
ng  of  240 
rown  up  a 
^bout  four 
I  party  b*^* 
So  heavy 
imen,  that 
1  the  skirt 
nuallv  rc- 


'V' 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAH. 


157 


inforcing^  from  the  Canada  shore,  until  they  had  23  boat-loads, 
when  they  attempted  to  outflank,  by  sending  a  large  body  up 
the  creek  to  ford  it.  But  a  detachment  of  about  60  men  being 
sent  to  dispute  the  passage,  they  were  repulsed  with  consider- 
able loss.  The  object  now  appearing  unattainable,  the  enemy 
commenced  their  retreat,  having  previously  thrown  some 
troops  on  Squaw  island,  which  enfiladed  the  creek,  thus  pre- 
f  venting  their  retreat  from  being  harrassed.  Their  superior 
numbers  enabled  them  to  take  their  wounded  and  most  of  their 
killed  off  the  field;  though  some  of  the  latter  were  afterwards 
found.  A  number  cf  muskets  and  accoutrements  were  also 
collected,  and  some  clothing  that  appeared  to  have  been  torn 
for  the  purpose  of  binding  their  wounds.  Six  British  priso- 
ners  were  taken,  who  stated  their  force  to  have  consisted  of  from 
12  to  1500  men.  Although  the  action  continued  for  two  hours 
and  a  half,  the  loss  of  the  Americans  was  but  trifling — two 
killed  and  eight  wounded.  The  loss  of  the  British  was  never 
ascertained,,  but  it  must  have  been  quite  disproportioned  to- 
that  of  the  Americans. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  British  before  Fort  Erie,  they  per- 
ceived that  the  opportunity  was  lost  of  carrying  the  American 
works  by  a  coup-de-main.  Driving  in  the  pickets,  therefore, 
they  made  a  regular  investment  of  the  place.  The  following 
day  general  Gaines  arrived  from  Sackett's  Harbour,  and  being 
senior  in  rank  assumed  the  command.  On  the  6th,  the  rifle 
corps  was  sent  to  endeavour  to  draw  out  the  enemy,  in  order 
to  try  h!s  strength.  Their  orders,  were  to  pass  through  the 
intervening  woods,  to  amuse  the  British  light  troops  until  their 
strong  columns  should  get  in  motion,  when  they  should  retire 
slowly  to  the  plain,  where  a  strong  line  was  posted  in  readiness, 
to  receive  the  enemy.  The  riflemen  accordingly  met  and 
drove  the  light  troops  into  their  Unes,  but  although  they  kept 
the  wood  near  two  hours,  they  were  not  able  to  draw  any  part 
of  the  enemy's  force  after  them.  The  British  left  eleven  dead 
and  three  prisoners  in  the  hands  of  the  riflemen;  but  their  loss- 
was  supposed  to  be  much  more  considerable.  The  loss  of  the 
riflemen  were  five  killed  and  three  or  four  wounded. 

The  main  c:imp  of  the  British  was  planted  about  two  miles 
distant.  In  front  of  it  they  threw  up  a  line  of  partial  circum- 
vallation,  extending  around  the  American  fortifications.  This 
consisted  of  two  lines  of  entrenchment,  supported  by  block- 
houses; in  front  of  rilese,  at  favourable  points,  batteries  were 
erected,  one  of  which  enfiladed  the  American  works= 

The  American  position  was  on  the  margin  of  lake  Erie,  at 
ihe  entrance  of  the  Niagara  river,  on  neai-ly  a  horizontal  plain  , 

Q  2 


f68 


lUSTOKY   OF  THE  WAK 


twelve  or  fifteen  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  water,  possess- 
ing few  natural  advantages.  It  had  been  strengthened  in  front 
by  temporary  parapet  breast-works,  entrenchment,  and  abbatis, 
with  two  batteries  and  six  field-pieces.  The  small  unfinished 
tort,  hrie,  with  a  24,  18,  and  12  pounder,  formed  the  north- 
east, and  the  Douglas  battery,  with  an  18  and  6  pounder  near 
the  edge  of  the  lake,  the  south-east  angle  on  the  right.  The 
left  was  defended  by  a  redoubt  battery  with  six  field-pieces, 
just  thrown  up  on  a  small  ridge.  The  rear  was  left  open 
to  the  lake,  bordered  by  a  rocky  shore  of  easy  ascent.  The 
battery  on  the  left  was  defended  by  captain  Towson;  Fort  Eric 
by  captain  Williams,  with  major  Trimble's  command  of  the 
1 9th  mfantryj  the  batteries  on  the  front  by  captains  Diddle  and 
J'annmg;  the  whole  of  the  artillery  commanded  by  major 
Hmdman.  Parts  of  the  II th,  9th,  and  22d  infantry,  were 
posted  on  the  right  under  the  command  of  lieutenant-colonel 
Aspmwall.  General  Ripley's  brigade,  consisting  of  the  21st 
and  23d,  defended  the  left.  General  Porter's  brigade  of  New 
York  and  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  with  the  riflemen,  occupied 
the  centre!  *^ 

During  the  1 3th  and  14,  the  enemy  kept  up  a  brisk  cannon- 
ade,  which  was  sharply  returned  from  the  American  batteries, 
without  any  considerable  loss.  One  of  their  shells  lodged  in 
a  small  magazme,  in  Fort  Erie,  which  was  almost  empty. 
It  blew  up  with  an  explosion  more  awful  in  appearance  than 
injurious  in  its  effects,  as  it  did  not  disable  a  man  or  derange 
a  gun.  A  momentary  cessation  of  the  thunders  of  the  artillery 
tooic  place  on  both  sides.  This  was  followed  by  a  loud  and 
joyous  shout  by  the  British  Army,  which  was  instantly  return- 
ed on  the  part  of  the  Americans,  who,  amidst  the  smoke  of 
the  explosion,  renewed  the  contest  by  an  animated  roar  of  the 
heavy  cannon. 

From  the  supposed  loss  of  ammunition,  aiid  the  consequent 
depression  such  an  event  was  likely  to  produce,  general  Gaines 
felt  pei^suaded  that  this  explosion  would  lead  the  enemy  to  as- 
sault, and  made  his  arrangements  accordingly.  These  suspi- 
t:ions  were  fully  verified,  by  an  attack  that  was  made  in  the 
night  between  the  14th  and  15th  of  August. 

The  night  was  dark,  and  the  early  part  of  it  raining,  but  ne- 
vertheless one  third  of  the  troops  were  kept  at  their  posts. 
At  half  past  two  o'clock,  the  right  column  of  ine  enemy  ap- 
proached, and  though  enveloped  in  darkness,  was  distinctly 
heard  on  the  American  left,  and  promptly  marked  by  the  mus- 
4ueiry  under  major  VVood  and  captain  Towson,  Being  mount- 
ed at  ijie  mdment,  Gaines  repaired  to  the  point  of  attack. 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


139 


where  the  sheet  of  fire  rolling  from  Towson's  battery,  and 
the  niusquetry  of  the  left  wing,  enabled  him  to  see  the  enemy's 
column  of  about  1500  men  approaching  on  that  point;  his  ad- 
vance  was  not  checked  until  it  had  approached  within  ten  feet 
of  the  mfantry.  A  line  of  loose  brush,  representing  an  abattis, 
only  mtervened;  a  column  of  the  enemy  attempted  to  pass 
round  the  abattis,  through  the  water,  where  it  was  nearly 
breast-deep.  Apprehending  that  this  point  would  be  carried, 
dames  ordered  a  detachment  of  riflemen  and  infantry  to  its 
support;  but  at  this  moment  the  enemy  were  repulsed.  They 
instantly  renewed  the  charge,  and  were  again  driven  back. 

On  the  right,  the  fire  of  cannon  and  musquetry  announced 
the  approach  of  the  centre  and  left  columns  of  the  enemy,  un- 
der colonel  Drummond  and  Scott.  The  latter  was  received 
and  repulsed  by  the  9th.  under  the  command  of  captain  Foster 
and  captains  Boughtonaiid  Harding's  companies  of  New  York 
and  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  aided  by  a  six-pounder,  judi- 
ciously posted  by  major  M'Kec,  chief  engineer. 

But  the  centre,  led  by  colonel  Drummond,  was  not  long  kept 
in  check;  it  approached  at  once  every  assailable  point  of  the 
ort,  and  with  scaling-ladders  ascended  the  parapet,  where 
however,  it  was  repulsed  with  dreadful  carnage.     The  assault 
was  twi.;c  repeated,  and  as  often  checked;  but  the  enemy  hav- 
ing moved  round  in  the  ditch,  covered  by  darkness,  encreased 
by  the  heavy  cloud  of  smoke  which  had  rolled  from  the  can- 
non and  musquetry,  repeated  the  charge,  re- ascended  the  lad- 
rters,  and  with  their  pikes,  bayonets,  and  spears  fell  upon  the 
American  artillerists,  and  succeeded  in  capturing  the  bastion 
J.ieutenant  M'Donough,  being  severely  wounded,  demanded 
fiuarter.     It  was  refused  by  colonel  Drummond.  The  lieuten- 
ant then  seized  a  handspike,  and  nobly  defended  himself  un- 
til  he  was  shot  down  witn  a  pistol  by  the  monster  who  had  re- 
lused  him  quarter,  who  often  reiterated  the  order—"  give  the 
damned -yankees  no  quarter."     This  officer,  whose  bravery,  if 
It  had  been  seasoned  with  virtue,  would  have  entitled  him  to 
/he  admiration  of  every  soldier— this  hardened  murderer  soon 
met  his  fate.     He  was  shot  through  the  breast,  while  repeat- 
ing the  order  "  to  give  no  quarter." 

Several  gallant  attempts  were  made  to  recover  the  right 
bastion,  but  all  proved  unsuccessful.  At  this  moment  every 
operation  was  arrested  by  the  explosion  of  some  cartridges 
deposited  m  the  end  of  the  stone  building  adjoining  the  con- 

tested  bastion.        Thf.   Pvr»lr»«sinr.     iirno   *».^.^^.«J J    j-_?    •     ._ 

tue  bastion  was  restored  by  the  flight  of  the  British.     At  this 
moment  captain  Biddle  was  ordered  to  cause  a  field-piece  to 


160 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


be  posted  so  as  to  enfilade  the  exterior  plain  and  salient  glacis 
Though  not  recovered  from  a  severe  contusion  in  the  shoulder, 
received  from  one  of  the  enemy's  shells,  Biddle  promptly 
took  his  position,  and  served  his  field-piece  wfth  vivacity  and 
effect.  Captain  Fanning's  battery  likewise  played  upon  them 
at  this  time  with  great  effect.  The  enemy  were  in  a  few  mo- 
ments entirely  defeated,  taken,  or  put  to  flight,  leaving  on  the 
field  221  killed,  174  wounded,  and  186  prisoners,  including 
14  officers  killed  and  7  wounded  and  prisoners.  A  large  por- 
tion were  severely  wounded;  the  slightly  wounded,  it  is  pre- 
sumed,  were  carried  off. 

,  The  loss  of  the  Americans  during  t  e  assault  was  seventeen 
killed,  fifty-six  wounded,  and  eleveii  missing.  The  British 
acknowledge  only  SI  killed,  309  wounded,  and  539  misshig. 
During  the  preceding  bombardment,  the  loss  of  the  Ameri- 
cans was  7  killed,  19  severely  and  17  slightlv  wounded.  The 
loss  of  the  British  is  not  mentioned  in  their  official  account. 
This  bombardment  commenced  at  sun-rise  on  the  morning  of 
the  13th,  and  continued  without  intermission  till  8  o'clock, 
P.  M.;  recommenced  on  the  14th,  at  day-light,  with  increased 
warmth;  and  did  not  end  until  an  hour  before  the  commence- 
ment of  the  assault  on  the  morning  of  the  I5th. 

During  the  night  preceding  the  commencemect  of  the  bom- 
bardment of  Fort  Erie,  an  unfortunate  affair  for  the  American 
arms  took  place  on  the  lake,  just  behind  the  fort,  in  the  sur- 
prise and  capture  of  two  schooners,  by  a  number  of  boats  full 
of  British  soldiers.  On  the  boats  being  hailed,  they  answered 
"  provision  boats,"  a  manoeuvre  which  deceived  the  American 
officers,  as  boats  from  the  fort  had  been  in  the  habit  of  passing 
and  repassing  through  the  night.  The  force  being  overwhelm- 
mg,  and  the  surprise  complete,  but  little  effectual  resistance 
was  inade,  and  the  enterprise  was  completely  successful.  The 
Americans  had  one  killed  and  nine  wounded.  The  loss  of  the 
assailants  was  more  considerable. 

A  short  time  after  the  assault  on  Fort  Erie,  general  Gaines 
received  a  serious  wound  from  the  bursting  of  a  shell,  by 
which  means  the  command  once  more  devolved  on  general 
Ripley,  till  the  2d  of  September,  when  the'  state  of  his  health 
allowed  general  Brown  again  to  place  himself  at  the  head  of 
his  army. 

The  troops  in  Fort  Erie  began  now  to  be  generally  consi- 
dered as  in  a  critical  -situation,  and  much  solicitude  to  be  ex- 
pressed for  the  fate  of  the  army  that  had  thrown  so  much  glory 
on  the  American  name,  menaced  as  it  was  in  front  by  an  enemy 
af  superior  force,  whose  numbers  ^yere  constantly  receiving 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


161 


additions,  and  whose  batteries  were  every  day  becomin'i-  more 
formidable,  while  a  river  of  difficult  passage  lay  on  then-  rear. 
Reinforcements  were  ordered  on  from  Champlain,  but  they 
were  yet  far  distant.  But  the  genius  of  Brown  was  fully  equal 
to  the  contmgency,  and  the  difficulties  with  which  he  was  en- 
vn-oned  served  only  to  add  to  the  number  of  his  laurels. 

Though  frequent  skirmishes  occured  about  this  period,  in 
which  individual  gallantry  was  amply  displayed,  yet  no  event 
oi  material  consequence  took  place  till  the  17th  of  September, 
when  having  suffered  much  from  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  bat- 
teries, and  aware  that  a  new  one  was  about  to  be  opened,  gene- 
ral Brown  resolved  on  a  sortie  in  order  to  effect  their  destruc- 
tion. The  British  infantry  at  this  time  consisted  of  three 
brigades,  of  12  or  1500  men  each,  one  of  which  was  stationed 
at  the  ^rks  in  front  of  Fort  Erie,  the  other  two  occupied  their 
camp  behind.  Brown's  intention  therefore  was,  to  storm  the 
batteries,  destroy  the  cannon,  and  roughly  handle  the  brigade 
upon  duty,  before  those  in  reserve  could  be  broueht  into 
action.  ° 

On  the  morning  of  the  17th,  the  infantry  and  riflemen,  regu- 
lars and  militia,  were  ordered  to  be  paraded  and  put  in  readi- 
ness to  march  precisely  at  12  o'clock.  General  Porter  with 
the  volunteers,  colonel  Gibson  with  the  riflemen,  and  m-ior 
Brooks  with  the  23d  and  1st  infantry,  and  a  few  dragoons  act- 
ing as  infantry,  were  ordered  to  move  from  the  extreme  left 
upon  the  enemy's  right,  by  a  passage  opened  through  the  woods 
tor  the  occassion.  General  Miller  was  directed  to  station  his 
command  in  the  ravine  between  Fort  Erie  and  the  enemy's 
batteries,  by  passing  them  by  detachment  through  the  skirts 
of  tiie  wood— and  the  2 1st  infantry  under  general  Ripley  was 
posted  as  a  corps  of  reserve  between  the  new  bastions  of  Fort 
trie— all  under  cover,  and  out  of  the  view  of  the  enemy. 

The  left  column,  under  the  command  of  general  Porter, 
which  was  destined  to  turn  the  enemy's  right,  having  arrived 
near  the  British  entrenchments,  were  ordered  to  advance  and 
commence  the  action.  Passing  down  the  ravine.  Brown  judg- 
ed from  the  report  of  the  musqetry  that  the  action  had  com- 
menced. Hastening,  therefore,  to  general  Miller,  he  directed 
him  to  seize  the  moment,  and  pierce  the  enemy's  entrench- 
ments between  the  batteries  No.  2  and  3  These  orders  were 
promptly  and  abiy  executed.     Within    30  minutes  after  the 

nrst  Crun  was  firpH.    hQttf>iM«:»B   Mo    O  nnrl   'X     frV»f>  ^^ '-  ii--    -r 

.J      .-     .. ...__,     ^ ;.,.,    j^,^j,    ^    tXHKX    kj,     tilt.    CliCIUy    D    IliiC    ui 

entrenchments,  and  his  two  block-houses,  were  in  possession 
ot  the  Americans. 
Soon  after,  battery  No.  1  was  abandoned  by  the  British.  The 


r^^       "    -,-:=- 


>(}2 


iiisTrnY  OF  THE  war. 


guns  in  each  were  then  spiked  or  otherwise  destroyed,  and  the 
nurjazme  of  No.  3  was  blown  uj). 

A  few  nanutes  before  the  explosion,  the  reserve  liad  been 

ordered  up  undt  j  i.;au  i  il  Ripley,  and  as  soon  as  he  arrived  on 

the  ground,  h<-  wa:    ..'lered  to  strengthen  the  front  line,  which 

was  tnen  engaged  with  the  enemy,  in  order  to  protect  the  de- 

wu-?^?^^    employed    in   demolishing   the   captured   works. 

While  torming  arrangements  for  acting  on  the  enemy's  camp 

during  the  moment  of  panic,  Ripley  received  a  severe  wound. 

r  u    1  ^l"^^'  however,  the  r.v,'-    i  of  the  sortie  being  accom- 

plished    beyond    the   most    sanguine    expectations,'  gencrar 

Miller  had  ordered  the  troops  on  the  right  to  fall  back  ;   and, 

observing  this  movement,  Brown  sent  his  staif  along  the  line 

to  call  m  the  other  corps.     Witliin  a  few  minutes  they  retired 

trom  the  ravine,  and  thence  to  the  camp. 

Thus,  says  general  Brown,  in  his  dispatch,  1000  regular.s 
and  an  equal  portion  o^  militia,  in  one  hour  of  close  action, 
blasted  the  hopes  of  the  enemy,  destroyed  the  fruits  of  fifty 
clays  labor,  and  diminished  his  effective  force  1000  men  at 
least. 

In  their  official  account  of  this  sortie,  the  British  published 
no  returns  of  their  loss,  but  from  their  vigorous  lesistance  it 
must  no  doubt  have  been  very  great.  Their  loss  in  prisoners 
was  385.  On  the  part  of  the  Americans  the  killed  amounted 
to  83,  the  wounded  to  216,  and  the  missing  to  a  like  number. 

A  few  days  after  this  battle  the  British  raised  the  siec-e,  and 
retreated  behind  the  Chippewa.  Meanwhile  the  reinforce- 
ments  from  Plattsburg  arrived  at  Sackett'b  Harbour,  and  after 
a  lew  days  rest  proceeded  to  tht  Niagara.  They  crossed  thnt 
river  on  the  mnth  of  October,  when  general  Izard,  being  the 
senior  oflicer,  superceded  general  Brown  in  the  cominand. 
On  the  14th  the  army  moved  from  fort  Eric,  with  the  desip-n 
ot  bringmg  the  enemy  to  action.  An  attempt  was  made  to 
dispute  the  passage  of  a  creek  at  Chippewa  plains,  but  the 
American  artillery  soon  compelled  the  enemy  to  retire  to  their 
tortified  camp,  when  attempts  were  repeatedly  made  to  draw 
them  out  the  following  day,  but  without  effect.  A  partial  er- 
gagement  took  place  on  the  19th,  which  closed  the  campaicn 
on  this  peninsula. 

General  Bissell  marched  from  Black  Creek  on  the  morning 
ot  the  18th,  with  a  body  of  about  900  men,  for  the  purpose 
ol  seizing  some  provisions  intended  for  the  British  troop-. 
Aite.  driving  before  them  a  picket,  of  which  they  made  the 
commanding  officer  prisoner,  they  encamped  for  the  i,i.t?ht,  in 
the  course  of  which  the  advanced  picket  was  attacked  by  two 


HISTOKY   OF  THE  WAH. 


163 


companies  of  the  Glenj^ary  lieht  infantry,  who  were  repulsed 
with  h)ss.  Next  morning  Bis'sel!  was  attacked  by  a  corps  of 
about  1200  men,  commanded  by  the  marquis  of  Tweedale. 
The  light  corps  and  riflemen  sustained  the  whole  fire  for  about 
fifteen  minutes,  with  the  greatest  gallantry,  until  the  othei- 
troops  were  formed,  and  brought  to  their  support. 

The  5th  regiment,  imder  colonel  Phickney,  was  ordered  to 
skirt  tl  c  woods  and  turn  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy;  the 
Uth,  under  major  Bernard,  to  form  in  front,  and  advance  to 
the  support  of  the  light  troops;  the  15th  and  16th  regiments 
were  ordered  to  act  as  circumstances  migiit  require.  The 
well-directed  fire  of  the  light  corps,  and  the  churge  of  the  Uth, 
soon  compelled  the  enemy  to  give  ground;  and  on  discovering 
tiiat  his  right  flank  was  turned  by  the  5th,  he  retreated  in  the 
utmost  confusion,  leaving  some  killed,  wounded,  and  prison- 
ers behind.  Bissell  pursued  them  to  a  ravine  some  distance 
from  the  scene  where  the  action  commenced.  Not  knowing 
the  ground,  he  did  not  think  proper  to  push  them  further,  but 
soon  after,  the  country  being  reconnoitered,  it  was  discovered 
ihat  they  had  retreated  to  their  strong  holds.  A  large  quanti- 
ty of  i^rain  was  found  and  destroyed;  and,  after  burying  the 
few  soldiers  who  fell,  and  the  enemy's  dead  who  were  left  on 
the  ground,  the  detachment  returned  to  camp.  The  killed, 
uounded,  and  missing  in  this  aff"air  amounted  to  67,  of  whom 
12  were  killed. 

Before  leaving  the  affairs  on  this  frontier,  it  will  be  proper 
10  mention  the  expedition  of  mounted  men  under  general 
M'Arthur,  , -hicL  proceeded  from  Detroit  towards  Burlington 
Heights,  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  the  resources  of  gen- 
eral Drummond's  army,  and  paralising  any  efforts  which  might 
be  made  against  Detroit  during  the  winter 

The  detachment,  consisting  of  about  72c  Olu    and  Kentuc- 
ky volunteers,  and  a  few  Indians,  left  Detroit  about  the  end 
of  October.     To  mask  the  object  of  the  expedition,  a   move- 
nient  round  lake  St.  Clair  was  rendered  absolutely  necessary. 
This  circuit  '    used  the  troops  to  be  exposed  to  many  difficul- 
ties and   hardships  'n  wading  frequently  along  the  shores  of 
the  lakr;  in  the  pa-^sage  of  several  deep  and   rapid  rivers, 
sometimes  without  boats,  and  on  all  occasions  encounteriii 
swamps;  yet,  notwithstanding  these  obstn  ies,  such  was  th( 
secrecy  and  rapidity  of  the   expedition,  that  the  detachment 
was  enabled  to  enter  the  town  of  Oxford,  140  miles  in  the  en- 
emy's country,  before  the  inhabitants  were  apprised  that  a  force 
vas  approaching. 

On  the  succeeding  day,  the  detachment  proceeded  to  Bur- 


164 


HISTORY    OF  THE  WAR. 


ford,  where  the  militia  had  been  embodied  in  expectation  ot 
this  expedition;  but  it  was  found  that  they  iiad  retreated,  a  few 
hours  before,  to  Malcolm's  n)ills,  where  they  were  joined  by 
the  militia  from  Long  Point. 

It  was  M'Arthur's  intention  to  cross  Grand  River,  as  soon 
as  posiblc,  without  regarding  the  militia  collected  at  Malcolm's 
mills,  and  attack  Burlington.  But  to  his  great  mortification, 
the  river  was  found  high  and  rapid  from  the  late  excessive 
rains.  Here  also  the  news  reached  him  that  the  American 
troops  had  re-crossed  the  Niagara,  leaving  only  a  strong  garri- 
son in  Fort  Erie.  These  and  other  considerations  presented 
serious  objections  to  any  attempt  to  pass  the  river;  it  was 
therefore  determined  to  attack  and  defeat  or  disperse  the  mili- 
tia at  Malcolm's  mills,  move  down  the  Long  Point  road  through 
the  Grand  River  settlement,  destroy  the  valuable  mills  in  that 
quarter,  and  then  return  to  the  American  territory,  either  by  a 
movement  across  Grand  River  at  the  mouth  to  fort  Erie,  or 
along  Talbot-street  to  the  Thames. 

To  that  effect,  a  detachment  was  directed  to  remain  and  en- 
gage the  attention  of  the  enemy,  whilst  the   principal  force 
should  be  withdrawn  and  marched  to  Malcolm's  mJHs.     The 
enemy,  consisting  of  four  or  five  hundred  militia  and  a  few  In- 
dians,  was  found  fortified  on  commanding    ground  beyond  a 
creek,  deep  and  difficult  of  passage,  except  at  a  bridge  imme- 
diately in  front  of  their  works,  which  iiad  been  destroyed.   Ar- 
rangements were  made  for  a  joint  attack  on  the  fort  and  rear. 
The  Ohio  troops,  with  the  advance  guard  and  Indiaus,  were  ac- 
cordingly thrown  across  the  creek  under  coverof  a  thick  wood, 
to  approach  the  enemy  in   rear,  whilst  the   Kentucky  troops 
were  to  attack  in  front,  as  soon  as  the  Attention  of  the  enemy 
was  engaged  by  the  attack  in  the  reaf.     The    enemy  would 
have  been  completely  surprised  and  captured,  had  not  an  un- 
fortunate yell  by  the  Indians  announced  the  approach  of  the 
detachment  destined  to  attack  their  rear;  they  were,  however, 
defeated  and  dispersed,  with  the  loss,  in  the  skirmishes  on  that 
day,  of  one  captain  and  seventeen  privates  killed,  nine  privates 
wounded,  and  three  captains,  five  subalterns,  and  one  hundred  A 
^d  three  privates  made  prisoners;  whilst  the  loss  of  the  Amc-  ' 
ricans  was  only  one  killed  and  six  wounded.  Early  next  morn- 
ing the  enemy  were  pursued  on  the  road  to  Do\  er,  many  made 
prisoners,  and  five  valuable  mills  destroyed. 

Apprehensive  that  the  troops  could  not  be  supplied  on  the 
route  to  fort  Erie,  and  that  difficulties  would  occur  in  the  pas- 
sage of  Grand  River,  totrciher  widi  tlif^  inirprfaMitv  x,i-.:ri.  ^v. 
isted  as  to  the  position  of  general  Izard's  army,  M' Arthur  was 


HISTORY    OF  THK  WAR.  ^g^ 

induced  to  return  to  Detroit  bv  the  w»v  f^F  t«iu  . 

of  the  effect  Zduced  hf  H  1      '    ^°'"  ™Sl>t  we  lo  lose  sight 
actively  e„;?g:d'rtatt:;r;:?,?,\VL""Sen''^^ 

.he  United  State  "^^e^acquledrvZTf;'''  '^'^  ,'"*  "'""'  "'' 
~e    or  the  powe..fu.T™^4li:  tt^'^^  SXTa^ 

On  the  ?«  ,^fT  "*  '^l'  T""'""  '"'«  of  frontier.  ^ 

.wo  of  tireS;,th«n"'  f  dTn't  feC*^?'  'T'''" 

wi..<.  Shifted,  ^^^^^'Z^a^^XI&ZX.^ 


itid 


ii'ii 


I 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


was  thus  forced  to  put  back  into  th.-  "^Huxent,  whither  he 
was  followed  by  a  seventy-four,  three  schooners,  and  seven 
l)arges  with  a  fresh  wind.  But  the  gun-boats  being  in  the 
rear,  particularly  one  which  was  laden  with  provisions,  Barney 
soon  found  it  necessary  to  hazard  an  engagement  to  prevent 
their  capture.  Accordingly,  bringing  his  sloop  and  one  of  the 
gun-boats  to  an  anchor,  he  sent  men  on  board  of  the  provision 
boat,  to  assist  in  bringing  her  in,  and  made  signals  for  his 
barges  to  return  and  join  him.  At  this  moment  his  sloop  and 
gun-boat  opened  a  fire  on  a  schooner  of  the  enemy,  which  was 
leading  in  with  a  number  of  barges.  She  immediately  bore 
up,  and  got  her  boats  ahead  to  tow  her  off,  seeing  which  the 
American  barges  rowed  down  upon  her  and  the  otiier  schoon- 
ers; and  gave  them  a  number  of  shot  at  long  distance.  But 
the  chase  was  soon  given  up,  and  the  flotilla  returned  to  port. 
During  the  firing  a  British  barge  threw  a  number  of  rockets, 
which  did  no  excution. 

On  the  8th,  the  enemy  being  reinforced  with  a  razee  and  a 
i-loop  war  brig,  the  flotilla  moved  up  the  Patuxent  to  the  mouth 
of  St.  Leonard's  creek,  and  on  being  followed  by  the  British 
squadron,  they  luoved  up  the  creek  about  two  miles,  and 
moored  in  line,  abreast,  across  the  channel,  where  they  pre- 
pared for  action.  The  creek  not  being  accessable  to  ships;  the 
barges  of  the  enemy,  fifteen  in  number,  were  dispatched  against 
the  flotilla.  As  they  approached,  they  advanced  a  rocket 
barge,  at  which  several  shot  were  fired  by  the.flotilla,  but  they 
fell  short,  as  rockets  can  be  throAvn  a  greater  distance  than 
shot.  Barney,  therefore,  got  his  barges,  thirteen  in  number, 
under  weigh,  and  leaving  the  sloop  ar^d  gun-boats  at  anchor, 
they  rowed  down  upon  the  enemy,  who  precipitately  fled  from 
their  position.  The  pursuit  was  continued  till  the  flotilla  came 
near  the  enemy's  shipping,  when,  after  firing  a  few  shot,  the 
American  barges  returned  to  their  moorings.  In  the  after- 
noon, the  British  barges  again  came  up,  again  threw  rockets, 
and  were  again  pursued  out  of  the  creek. 

During  these  encounters,  the  British  are  said  to  have  suf- 
fered considerably.  The  large  schooner  was  nearly  destroyed, 
having  seveial  shot  through  her  at  the  water's  edge;  her  deck 
torn  up,  gun  dismounted,  and  mainmast  nearly  cut  ofl'  about 
half  way  up,  and  otherwise  much  cut.  They  ran  her  ashore 
to  prevent  her  sinking.  The  commodore's  boat  was  cut  in 
two;  a  shot  went  through  the  rocket  boat;  one  of  the  srnall 
schooners,  carrying  two  thirty-two  pounders,  had  a  shot  which 
raked  her  from  att  forward.  The  boats  generally  sutiered, 
but  their  loss  was  not  ascertauied. 


H 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


167 


whither  lie 
>,  and  seven 
bciniir  in  the 
iions,  Barney 
It  to  prevent 
nd  one  of  the 
the  provision 
gnals  for  his 
his  sloop  and 
y,  which  was 
ediately  bore 
Iff  which  the 
)tiier  schoon- 
stance.  But 
rned  to  port, 
ir  of  rockets, 

1  razee  and  a 
to  the  mouth 
^  the  British 
o  miles,  and 
re  they  pre- 
lo  ships;  the 
tched  against 
:ed  a  rocket 
.ilia,  but  they 
listance  than 
n  in  number, 
.ts  at  anchor, 
:ely  fled  from 
flotilla  came 
few  shot,  the 
In  the  after- 
irew  rockets, 

to  have  suf- 
■ly  destroyed, 
ige;  her  deck 
cut  ofl'  about 
.n  her  ashore 
t  was  cut  in 

of  the  small 
a  shot  which 
ally  sutiered, 


On  the  15th,  the  enemy  having  received  further  reinforce- 
ments, sent  a  detachment  of  boats  up  the  river,  which  took 
possession  of  Benedict  and  Marlborough,  the  latter  only  18 
miles  from  Washington.  After  plundering  a  quantity  of  stock, 
and  burning  the  tobacco  warehouses,  which,  according  to  the 
Jiritish  statemeni,  contained  2500  hogsheads  of  tobacco,  they 
14        returned  to  their  ships. 

Shortly  after  this  attair,  in  order  to  extricate  the  flotilla  from 
Its  confined  situation,  a  battery  was  hastily  thrown  up  on  a 
])omt  ot  land  at  the  junction  of  St.  Leonard's  creek  and  the 
Piuuxent,  and  a  coml)ined  attack  being  made  by  the  flotilla  and 
a  saiall  body  of  infantry  and  artillery,  the  British  squadron  was 
forced  to  drop  down  the  Patuxent,  which  enabled  commodore 
Barney  to  pass  his  flotilla  up  that  river 

At  this  time  no  apprehension  was  entertained  of  any  serious 
attack  being  made  on  any  important  point  by  the  enemy's  for- 
ces in  the  Chesapeake.  But  towards  the  end  of  June,  certain 
intelligence  was  received  of  the  complete  success  of  the  allies 
in  the  subjugation  of  F' ranee,  and  government  were  led  to  be-- 
lieve,  as  well  from  communications  received  from  our  minis- 
ters abroad,  as  from  the  tone  of  the  British  prints,  that  a  pow- 
erful force  was  about  to  be  sent  to  the  United  States.  A  va- 
riety of  considerations  pointed  to  Washington  City  and  Balti- 
more as  prominent  objects  of  attack. 

Immediate  measures  of  defence  had  therefo-e  become  ne- 
cessary; and  accordingly  a  new  military  district  was  created, 
embracing  the  state  of  Maryland,  the  District  of  Columbia, 
and  that  part  of  Virginia  lying  between  the  Rappahannock  and 
Potomack,  the  command  of  which  was  given  to  general  Win- 
der. A  requisition  was  made  on  certain  states  for  a  corps  ot 
93,500  militia,  and  the  executive  of  each  state  was  requested 
to  detach  and  hold  in  readiness  for  immediate  service  their  re- 
spective quotas.  Of  that  requisition,  2000  effectives  from  the 
quota  of  Virginia;  .5000  from  that  of  Pennsylvania;  6000,  the 
whole  quota  of  Maryland;  and  2000,  the  estimated  numbei  of 
the  militia  of  the  District  of  Columbia,  were  put  at  the  dispo- 
sition of  general  Winder,  making  an  aggregate  of  15,000,  ex- 
clusive of  about  1000  regulars.  But  tins  force,  which  had  it 
been  well  organized,  and  ready  to  meet  the  foe  at  any  threat- 
ened point,  would  have  been  amply  sufficient  for  defence,  to- 
tally failed  in  the  hour  of  need.  From  the  tardiness  incident 
to  the  present  imperfect  militia  system  of  the  United  States, 
the  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  troops  could  not  be  organized 
m  time  to  m.eet  the  enemy,  although  the  battle  v.'hich  sealed 
the  fate  of  Waslungton  did  not  take  place  till  a  month  ufter 


168 


HISTORY    OF  THE  WAR. 


ii.^.'i 


they,  were  called  out.  And  even  of  the  Maryland  militia,  nearly 
one  hah  joined  the  army  but  half  an  hour  before  the  action. 
A  considerable  part  of  this  delay  was  occasioned  by  general 
Winder  s  not  receiving  the  authority  to  call  out  the  slate  troops 
tor  some  time  after  it  was  issued,  owing  to  his  being  constarlt- 
ly  m  motion  at  this  period,  in  order  to  acquire  a  comulete 
knowledge  of  the  topography  of  the  district. 

During  the  month  of  July,  the  enemy's  fleet  ascended  both 
the  Potomack  and  Patuxent,  and  committed  great  dcpreda- 
lions,  particularly  on  the  former  river.  Admiral  Cochrane 
arrived  in  the  Chesapeake  in  the  beginning  of  August,  and  on 
the  17th,  the  fleet,  then  in  great  force,  was  joined  by  admiral 
Malcolm,  with  the  expedition  from  Bermuda,  destined  againsi 
ioaltimore  and  Washington. 

The  circumstance  of  Barney's  flotilla  having  taken  shelter 
at  the  head  of  the  Patuxent  proved  extremely  favourable  to  an 
attack  on  Washington,  as  it  masked  the  intention  of  the  enemy. 
This  attack,  therefore,  being  determined  on,  Cochrane  moved 
his  squadron  up  the  river.  Previously  to  his  entering  the 
Patuxent,  however,  he  detached  captam  Gordon,  with  a  num- 
ber of  ships  and  bombs  to  the  Potamack,  to  bombard  fort 
Warburton,  with  a  view  of  destroying  that  fort,  and  opening  a 
free  communication  above,  as  well  as  to  cover  the  retreat  of 
the  army,  should  its  return  by  the  Bladensburg  road  be  found 
too  hazardous.  Sir  Peter  Parker,  with  the  Menelaus  and 
some  small  vessels,  was  sent  up  the  Chesapeake  to  make  a 
diversion  in  tha*.  quarter.  The  remainder  of  the  naval  force, 
and  the  troops,  moved  up  the  Patuxent  to  Benedict,  where 
the  army  was  landed  upon  the  19th  and  20th. 

-So  soon  as  the  necessary  provisions  and  s^res  could  be  as- 
sembled and  arranged,  major-general  Ross,  with  his  army, 
moved  towards  Nottingham  while  the  British  flotilla,  consist- 
ing of  the  armed  launches,  pinnaces,  barges,  and  other  boats 
of  the  fleet,  under  admiral  Cockburn,  passed  up  the  river, 
keeping  on  the  right  flank  of  the  army,  for  the  double  purpose 
cf  supplying  it  with  provisions,  and,  if  necessary,  of  passing  it 
over  to  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  which  secured  a  safe  retreat 
to  the  ships,  should  it  be  judged  necessary.  The  army  reach- 
ed Nottingham  on  the  21st,  and  the  following  day  arrived  at 
Marlborough.  The  flotilla,  keeping  pace  with  the  army,  ar- 
rived within  sight  of  Barney's  flotilla  on  the  22d.  It  was  in- 
stantly set  on  fire  by  a  small  party  of  sailors  who  had  been 
left  for  that  purpose,  the  commodore  having  previously  joined 
general  Winder  with  the  greater  part  of  his  force.  The  flo- 
tilla  soon  blevv  up,  excepting  one  vessel,  which  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  cnemv. 


HXStORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


169 


Wliile  a  large  regular  army,  well  disciplined  and  accoutred, 
accompanied  with  a  strong  naval  force,  was  thus  within  1 6 
miles  of  the  American  capital,  the  principal  part  of  the  force 
destined  to  defend  it  had  not  arrived,  and  a  considerable  por- 
tion still  remained  at  their  homes.  The  actual  force  under 
general  Winder  only  amounted  to  about  3000  men,  of  whom 
1400  were  regulars,  including  the  marines  and  sea-fencibles 
under  commodore  Barney;  the  remainder  were  volunteers  and 
militia,  principally  from  the  District  of  Columbia.  The  force 
of  the  enemy  at  this  time  was  variously  estimated.  The  best 
opinion  made  them  from  5000  to  7000.  They  were  without 
cavalry,  and  had  only  two  small  field-pieces  and  one  howitzer, 
drawn  by  men.  Four  hundred  of  the  American  troops  were 
cavalry,  and  they  had  17  pieces  of  artillery. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  23d  the  British  army  again  set  out, 
and  after  some  skirmishing  with  the  American  advance,  in 
which  the  latter  were  comj^Ued  to  retreat,  bivouacked  for  the 
night  five  miles  in  advance  of  Marlborough.  Towards  sun- 
set, general  Winder  ordered  his  troops  to  retreat  to  Washing- 
ton, that  he  might  effect  a  union  of  his  whole  forces.  To  this 
he  was  also  induced  by  the  fear  of  a  night  attack,  from  the  su- 
periority of  the  enemy,  and  want  of  discipline  in  his  troops, 
and  knowing  that  in  such  an  attack  his  superiority  in  artillery 
could  not  be  used. 

Meanwhile  general  Stansbury  arrived  at  Bladcnsburg  on  the 
22d  with  about  1300  Baltimore  militia,  arid  on  the  evening  of 
the  23d  he  was  joined  by  colonel  Sterrett  with  another  militia 
regiment  from  Baltimore,  about  500  strong,  a  rifle  battalion  of 
about  150  men,  and  two  companies  of  volunteer  artillery,  also 
about  150  strong;  making  Stansbury's  whole  force  about  2100, 
Most  of  these  troops  were  extremely  fatigued  by  their  march 
from  Baltimore. 

General  Stansbury  encamped  during  the  night  of  the  23d 
on  a  hill  near  Bladensburg,  with  the  intention  of  attacking  the 
enemy  at  reveille  next  morning,  in  com.pliance  with  previous 
orders  from  general  Winder.  Near  midnight,  a  firing  from 
the  advanced  pickets  on  the  road  by  which  the  enemy  w*s  ex 
pected,  caused  the  troops  to  be  prepared  for  action,  and  they 
were  kept  under  arms  till  after  two  the  following  morning;  and 
hardly  had  they  again  retired  to  their  tents,  when  information 
was  received  from  general  Winder  that  he  had  retreated  to  the 
city  by  the  Eastern  branch  bridge.  As  this  movement  of 
Wnider  exposed  both  the  rear  and  right  flank  of  Stansbury's 
troops,  and  his  officers,  whom  he  immediately  consulted,  were 
unanimous  in  opinion  that  his  situation  on  the  hill  could  not 

V  2 


170 


HISTORY    OF  THE  WAfl. 


1^ 


l\ 


'%  I 


be  defended  with  the  force  then  under  his  commaiKl,  worn 
clown  with  hunger  and  fatigue  as  they  were,  it  was  considereJ' 
indispensably  necessary  that  the  troops  should  immediately  re- 
tire across  the  bridge  at  Bladensburg,  and  take  a  position 
which  they  could  defend  on  the  road  between  that  place  and 
the  city.  Orders  were  therefore  instantly  given  to  strike  tents 
and  prepare  to  march.  In  about  thirty  minutes,  without  noise 
or  contusion,  the  whole  were  in  motion,  and  about  half  past 
three  in  the  morning  passed  the  bridge  at  Bladensburg,  which 
leads  to  the  city  of  V^y  ashington.  Securing  the  rear  from  sur- 
prise, the  troops  halted  in  the  road  till  the  approach  of  dav, 
w^ith  a  view  of  finding  some  place  where  water  could  be  had, 
that  the  men  might  partake  of  some  refreshment. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  24th,  the  troons  were  again  put 
4n  motion  towards  the  city,  with  a  view  of  taking  a  stand  on 
some  more  favourable  ground  for  defence,  when  orders  were 
received  from  general  Winder  to  give  tiic  enemy  battle  at 
iJIadcnsburg,  should  he  move  tliat  wav,  and  that  he  would 
jom,  if  necessary.  Stansbury  immediately  ordered  his  troops 
to  retrace  their  steps  to  Bladensburg,  and  took  a  position  to 
the  west  of  that  place,  in  an  orchard  on  the  left  of  the  Wash- 
ington road.  Here  his  artillery,  consisting  of  six  six-pound- 
ers, posted  themselves  belund  a  small  breastwork  of  earth, 
which  had  been  lately  thrown  up,  and  the  riflemen  and  infan- 
try were  posted  in  the  rear  and  to  the  left,  so  as  to  protect  the 
position.  This  battery  commanded  Jie  pass  into  Bladensburg, 
and  the  bridge  leading  to  Washington. 

Meanwhile  general  Winder's  troops,  including  commodore 
Barney]s  command,  made  a  rapid  march  from' Washington, 
and  arrived  upon  the  ground  just  as  the  enemy  made  their  ap- 
pearance behind  Bladensburg.  Colonel  Beall,  with  about  800 
militia  from  Annapolis,  had  crossed  the  bridge  about  half  an 
hour  before,  and  posted  himself  on  the  right  of  ihe  Washing- 
ton road.  The  force  which  had  arrived  from  the  city  was  form- 
ed  in  a  second  line  on  the  right  and  left  of  the  road  in  the  rear 
of  Stansbury's  and  Beall's  command,  the  heavy  artillery  under 
comndbdore  Barney  being  posted  on  or  near  the  road. 

About  half  after  12,  while  the  second  Hue  was  forming,  the 
enemy  approached,  and  the  battle  commenced.  The  'Balti- 
more artillery  opened  their  fire,  and  dispersed  the  enemy's 
light  troops  now  advancing  along  the  street  of  the  village,  .  ho 
took  a  temporary  cover  behind  the  houses  and  trees,  iii  loose 
order,  and  presented  <4)jects  only  occasionally  for  the  fire  of 
the  cannon.  The  enemy  then  ummenced  th  'owing  his  rock- 
f^ts,  and  his  light  troops  began  to  concentrate  near  the  bridge, 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


171  • 


and  to  press  across  it  and  the  river,  which  was  fordable  above. 
The  Baltimore  riflemen  now  united  with  the  fire  of  the  batte- 
ry ;  and  for  some  time  with  considerable  effect.  The  enemy's 
column  was  not  only  dispersed  while  in  the  street,  but  while 
approaching  the  bridge  they  were  thrown  into  some  confusion, 
and  the  British  officers  were  seen  exerting  themselves  to  press 
the  soldiers  on.  Having  now  gained  the  bridge,  the  enemy 
passed  it  rapidly,  and  immediately  flanked,  formed  the  line, 
and  advanced  steadily  on,  which  compelled  the  artillery  and 
riflemen  to  give  way.  But  they  were  soon  rallied,  and  united 
with  the  other  Baltimore  troops  at  a  small  distance  in  the  rear 
ot  their  first  r^osition.  One  of  the  pieces  of  artillery  was  aban- 
doned and  spiked. 

A  company  of  volunteer  artillery  from  the  citv,  under  the 
command  of  captain  Burch,  and  a  small  detachment  near  it, 
now  opened  a  cross  fire  on  the  enemy,  who  were  partiallv  shel- 
tered by  the  trees  of  an  orcliard,  and  kept  up  a  galling  fire  on 
part  of  the  American  line.  Colonel  Sterret,  with  one  of  the 
Baltimore  regiments.  Was  ordered  to  advance,  and  made  a 
prompt  movement  until  ordered  to  halt;  for  at  this  moment 
the  other  two  Baltimore  regiments  were  thrown  into  confusion 
by  the  rockets  of  the  enemy,  and  began  to  giv-  wav.  In  a 
few  minutes  they  took  to  flight,  in  defiance  of  all  the  exertions 
of  generals  Winder  and  Stansbury  and  other  oflicei-C  Burch's 
artillery  and  Sterret's  regiment  remained  firm,  until,  being 
out-flanked,  they  were  ordered  to  retreat,  with  a  view  of  re- 
fonnmg  at  a  small  distance  in  the  r,>ar.  But  instead  of  retir- 
ing m  order,  the  militia  regiment  retreated  in  disorder  and 
contusion.  Thus  was  the  first  line,  which  consisted  almost 
exclusively  of  Bdtimore  militia,  totally  routed  and  put  to 
night. 

On  the  right  colonels  Beall  and  Hood, commanding  the  An- 
napohs  militi|i,  had  thrown  forward  a  small  detachment,  under 
colonel  Kramer.  After  maintaining  their  ground  for  some 
time  with  considerable  injury  to  the  enemv,  this  advance  was 
driven  back  on  the  main  body.  Their  retreat  exposed  the 
enemy's  column  in  the  road  to  the  city  artillery,  under  major 
leter,  which  continued  an  animated  discharge  on  them  till 
they  cume  in  cc:  t  -  ;  with  commodore  Barney's  command. 
Here  the  enemy  mei  tr  ',  greatest  resistance,  and  sustained  the 
greatest  loss,  wnile  advancing  upon  the  retreating  line.  Wiien 
the  British  came  in  full  view,  and  in  a  heavy  column  in  the 
mam  road;  Barney  ordered  an  -eighteen  pounder  to  be  op  f-d 
upon  them,  which  completely  cleared  the  road,  and  repulsed 
tiiem.     In  several  attempts  to  rally  and  advance,  the  enemv 


i72 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


were  again  repulsed,  which  induced  them  to  flank  to  the  rit?ht 
of  the  American  line  in  an  open  field.     Here  three  twelve - 
pounders  opened  upon  them,  and  the  flotilla  men  acted  as  in- 
fantry with  considerable  effect.     The  enemy  continued  flank- 
ing to  the  right,  and  pressed  upon  the  Annapolis  militia,  which 
gave  way  after  three  or  four  rounds  of  ineffectual  fire,  while 
colonel  Beall  and  other  officers  attempted  to  rallv  the  men  up- 
on their  high  position.     Commodore  Barney's  command  now 
had  the  whole  force  of  the  enemy  to  contend  with.     The  Brit- 
ish never  again,  however,  attempted  to  appear  in  force  in  front, 
but  contmumi^  to  outflank,  pushed  forward  a  few  scattering 
sharp-shooters,  by  whom  Barney  was  wounded,  and  several  of 
his  officers  killed  or  wounded.     Being  now  completely  out^ 
flanked  on  both  sides,  the  ammunition-waggons  having  gone  off 
in  disorder,  and  that  which  the  marines  and  flotilla  men  had, 
being  exhaustecU  Barney  ordered  a  retreat;  in  consequence  of 
his  wound,  he  hmjself  was  made  prisoner.     His  pieces  fell  into 
the  Hands  of  the  enemy. 
,      The  Georgetown  and  city  militia,  and  the  few  regulars  which 
were  ok  the  field,  still  remained  firm;  but  being  now  also  out- 
flanked, th*  y  were  ordered  by  general  Winder  to  retreat,  which 
was  effected  with  as  much  order  as  the  nature  of  the  ground 
would  permit.     After  retiring  five  or  six  hundred  paces,  they 
were  halted  and  formed,  but  were  again  ordered  to  retreat,  and 
to  collect  and  form  on  the  height  near  the  capitol.     Here  they 
were  joined  by  a  regiment  of  Virginia  militia,  who  had  arrived 
m  the  city  the  preceding  evening,  but  had  been  detained  there 
by  some  difficulties  which  had  arisen  in  furnishing  them  with 
arms  and  ammunition. 

General  Winder  had  endeavoured  to  direct  the  retreat  of 
the  Baltimore  troops  towards  the  city,  but  from  the  confusion 
m  which  they  fled,  was  not  able  to  eftect  it,  and  they  directed 
their  course  nortwardly  towards  Montgomery  court-house.— 
This  wrong  direction  to  their  course  was  principally  caused 
by  their  ignorance  of  there  being  a  second  line  of  troops  be- 
hind them,  general  Winder's  forces  having  arrived  just  as  the 
action  commenced. 

Th  British  estimated  their  loss  in  this  battle  at  64  killed, 
and  185  wounded  The  loss  of  the  Americans  was  estimated 
by  the  superintending  surgeon  at  10  or  12  killed,  and  about  30 
Avounded,  some  of  whom  afterwards  died.  The  most  probable 
estimate  of  the  British  force  made  it  about  4500;  of  the  Ameri- 
can 6000;  but  it  must  be  recollected  that  the  enemy's  troops 
were  all  regulars,  who  had  seen  service,  and  were  led  by  able 
officers  of  great  experience,  while  the  American  troops  were 


{ 


ik  to  the  right 
three  twelve - 
ti  acted  as  in- 
ntinued  flank- 
militia,  which 
al  fire,  while 
J  the  men  up- 
ommand  now 
1.  The  Brit- 
force  in  front, 
ew  scattering 
ind  several  of 
mpletely  out- 
iving  gone  off 
11a  men  had, 
nsequence  of 
ieces  fell  into 

gulars  which 
low  also  out- 
etreat,  which 
)f  the  ground 
:1  paces,  they 
)  retreat,  and 
Here  they 
3  had  arrived 
stained  there 
g  them  with 

le  retreat  of 
he  confusion 
hey  directed 
urt-house. — 
pally  caused 
)f  troops  be- 
d  just  as  the 

at  64  killed, 
as  estimated 
and  about  30 
ost  probable 
fthe  Ameri- 
!my's  troops 
led  by  able 
troops  were 


HlSTOllY   OF  THE  WAR. 


173 


;dl  militia,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  hundred  seamen  and  re- 
gulars; that  one  half  of  them  were  not  collected  together  till 
ihe  day  before  the  engagement,  and  about  800  did  not  arrive  till 
a  few  minutes  before  its  commencement}  that  from  the  uncer- 
tainty whether  Baltimore,  the  city  of  Washington,  or  Fort 
Washington,  would  be  selected  as  the  point  of  attack,  it  was 
necessary  that  the  troops  should  frequently  change  their  posi- 
tions, owing  to  which,  and  to  alarms  causlessly  excited  on  the 
night  of  the  23d,  they  were  all  much  fatigued,  and  many  of 
them  nearly  exhausted^  at  the  time  when  the  hostile  army  was 
cressing  the  bridge;  and  finally,  that  the  officers  commanding 
the  trot  ps  were  generally  unknown  to  general  Winder,  and  but 
a  very  small  number  of  them  had  enjoyed  the  benefit  of  milita- 
ry instruction  or  experience.  When  these  circumstances  are 
taken  into  consideration,  we  think  we  shall  not  hazard  much  in 
asserting,  now  that  the  violent  feelings  of  the  moment  have  sub- 
sided, that  the  American  militia  rather  gained  than  lost  honour 
on  the  field  of  Bladensburg.  The  Baltimore  troops  fought  gal- 
lantly, until  forced  to  retreat  by  their  flanks  being  turned. — 
While  retreating,  by  order  of  their  commander,  they  were 
thix)wn  into  confusion  by  a  new  mode  of  warfare,  of  which  the 
effects  were  to  them  totally  unknown*.  The  bravery  of  Bar- 
ney's command  needs  no  comment,  and  the  orderly  retreat  of 
the  Annapolis  and  District  of  Columbia  militia,  in  the  face  of  a 
regular  army  of  superior  numbers,  (now  that  the  Baltimore 
troops  had  dispersed)  is  above  all  praise. 

A  remarkable  circumstance  attendant  on  this  battle  was  the 
presence  of  the  American  president  and  heads  of  departments. 
They  retreated  with  the  second  line  of  troops  to  Washington, 
svhere  a  consultation  was  held  with  :be  commanding  general  as 
to  the  propriety  of  making  a  stand  on  the  heights  near  the  ca- 
pitol,  or  in  the  capitol  itself.  General  Winder  stated,  that  the 
diminution  of  his  force  was  such  as  to  render  it  imJ)ossible  to 
place  his  troops  in  a  position  which  would  prevent  the  enemy 
from  taking  him  on  the  flanks  as  well  as  in  front;  and  that  no 
reasonable  hope  could  be  entertained,  that  any  of  the  troops 
could  be  relied  on  to  make  a  resistance  as  desperate  as  neces- 
sary, in  an  isolated  building,  which  could  not  be  supported  by  a 
sufficiency  of  troops  without:  indeed  it  would  have  taken  nearly 
the  whole  of  the  troops,  he  said,  to  have  sufficiently  filled  the 


*  ^ome  of  the  finest  troofis  of  France  were  thrown  info  con'- 
jUiion  by  the  rocket  brigade  nt  the  but  lie  of  Leifuic 


174 


HISTORY    OF  THE  WAR. 


two  wingst,  which  would  have  left  the  enemy  masters  of  cveiv 
other  part  of  the  city,  and  given  him  the  opportunity,  without 
risk,  in  24  houis  to  have  starved  them  into  a  surrender.  I'hc 
objection  equally  applied  to  the  occupation  of  any  particular 
part  ot  the  city.  It  was  accordingly  determined  to  retire  throut-h 
Cxeorgetown,  and  take  post  on  the  heights  in  the  rear  of  that 
forces  ^  ^^^^  ^^  collecting  together  the  whole  of  the 

It  is  impossible,  says  the  commander  of  the  militia  of  the 
district,  in  his  dispatch;  to  do  justice  to  the  anguish  evinced  by 
the  troops  of  \Vashington  and  Georgetown,  on  the  receipt  of 

!^'?  ?u  I  ''^  '"^^  ""^^  ^^^''^"S  their  families,  their  houses, 
and  their  homes,  at  the  mercy  of  an  enraged  enemy,  was  insup- 
poi  table.  To  preserve  that  order  which  was  maintained  dur- 
ing he  retreat,  was  now  no  longer  practicable.  As  they  re- 
tiled  through  Washmgton  and  Georgetown, numbers  were  ob- 
taming  and  takmg  leave  to  visit  their  homes,  and  again  rejoin- 

12\  fl  TV^''u^  ^^'"'  ^'^^^"  ^"^  scattered,  «h?y  halted  at 
night  on  the  heights  near  Tenly  Town,  and  on  the  ensuing  day 
assembled  at  Montgomery  court-house 

Meanwhile  general  Ross,  after  halting  his  army  a  short  time 
for  refreshment,  pushed  on  towards  Washington,  where  he  ar- 
rived  unmolested  about  eight  in  the  evening.'  Having  stationed 
his  mam  body  on  the  heights  about  a  mile  and  a  half  east  of 
tne  capitol,  he  led  his  advance,  consisting  of  about  700  men, 
into  the  deserted  city.  ' 

Washington,  though  denominated  a  citv,  and  though  the 
seat  of  the  federal  government,  possesses  but  an  inconsidera- 
ble population,  which  is  sparely  scattered  over  an  extensive 
scite.  ^  1  he  capitol  stands  near  the  centre  of  the  city;  the  prd- 
sident  s  palace  and  navy  yard  are  each  distant  about  a  mile 
irom  that  building,  in  opposite  directions.  Around  each  of  these 
situations,  stands  what  would  elsewhere  be  denominated  a  vil- 
lage,  and  a  few  scattering  rows  of  buildings  have  been  erected 
on  the  avenue  leading  from  the  capitol  to  the  president's  house, 
and  thence  tt)  Georgetown,  each  about  a  mile  in  h'iigth.  The 
number  G.  houses  in  the  city  does  not  exceed  nine  hundred; 
Its  II  habitants  amount  to  about  eight  thousand.  The  capitol 
and  the  president's  house  are  built  of  a  beautiful  white  free- 


le  cen- 


t  The  (wo  ivings  constituted  the  whole  ofthecafiitol.tht  .... 
tralfiart  of  the  building  never  having  been  erected.   The  wings 
were  connected  by  a  slight  wooden  gallery. 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


175 


stone,  and  have  been  deservedly  esteemed  the  finest  specimens 
of  architecture  in  the  United  States,  if  not  upon  the  coxuinent. 
The  capitol  was  in  an  unfinished  state,  the  two  wings  only  hav- 
ing been  erected;  the  upper  part  of,  the  north  wing  contained 
the  senate-chamber,  with  the  committee  rooms,  and  office  con- 
tainhig  their  archieves,  and  the  congressional  library,  a  valua- 
ble collection  of  books;  in  the  lower  part  was  the  hall  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States.  The  southern  wing  was 
exclusively  devoted  to  the  hall  of  the  house  of  representatives 
and  their  necessary  offices,  the  whole  of  the  upper  part  being 
occupied  by  the  hall  and  its  galleries. 

Washington,  thus  abandoned  to  the  British  arms,  presented 
now  a  most  deplorable  scene.  Though  surrendered  without 
the  slightest  opposition,  and  though  totally  without  fortifica- 
tions, the  British  naval  and  military  commanders  (admiral 
Cockbiirn  and  general  Ross)  immediately  issued  orders  for, 
and  personally  superintended  the  conflagration  c"  the  public 
buildings,  with  all  the  testimonials  of  taste  and  literature  which 
they  contained.  The  capitol  and  the  president's  house,  to- 
gether with  the  costly  and  extensive  buildings  erected  for  the 
accommodation  of  tlie  principal  officers  of  government  in  the 
transaction  of  public  business,  were,  on  the  memorable  night 
of  the  24th  of  August,  consigned  to  the  flames.  The  large  ho- 
tel on  the  capitol  hill,  the  great  bridge  across  the  Potomac, 
and  the  private  rope-walks,  shared  the  same  fate. 

A  consultation  had  been  held  by  the  president  and  the  heads 
ofdepartnieiitsonthe  subject  of  the  navy  yard,  on  the  morn- 
ing preceding  the  battle  of  Bladensburg.  The  secretary  of 
the  navy  described  the  situation  of  the  public  vessels,  and  the 
liature  of  the  public  property,  at  that  establishment;  the  vast 
importance  of  the  supplies,  and  of  the  shipping,  to  the  enemy, 
particularly  as  there  appeared  to  be  no  doubt  of  hii  squadron 
forming  a  junction  with  his  army,  should  it  succeed  in  the  eon- 
quest  of  the  capitol  (general  Winder  having  distinctly  stated 
on  the  same  morning,  that  Fort  Washington  could  not  be  de- 
fcjiued);  and  as,  in  this  event  nothing  could  be  more  clear  than 
that  he  would  first  plunder,  and  then  destroy  the  buildings  and 
improvements;  or  if  unable  to  carry  oft'  tne  plunder  and  the 
shipping,  he  would'  destroy  the  whole.  And  if  the  junction 
should  be  formed,  it  would  be  a  strong  inducement  to  the 
enemy  to  remain,  in  order  to  launch  the  new  frigate,  which 
the  force  at  his  command  would  accomplish  in  four  or  five 
days.  He  would  then  carry  off"  the  whole  of  the  public  stores 
and  shipping,  and  destroy  the  establishment;  and,  in  the  mean 

time.  PTpaf Iv    PvfpnH    thn.  fipM  r\f   1-iio  «!iir»<^o«»  onH    rJ<».-r,£.«-o«-;^«. 


m 


(.'.■.•iC- 


m 


176 


IJlSrOAV    OF  IHE   WAR. 


Thus,  in  either  case,  whether  the  junction  w.  ,  fo,  nied.  or 
whether  the  army  alone  entered  tiiC  city,  the  loss  or  destruclion 
of  the  whole  of  the  public  property  at'^the  navy  vardla  t  ' 
tain.  It  was,  therefore,  determined,  as  the  rcsuii  of  this  con 
sultation,  that  the  public  shipping,  and  naval  and  military  store  , 
and  provisions  at  the  navy  yard,  should  be  destroyed,  in  the 
even  of  the  enemy 's  obtaining  possession  of  the  cUy.  Agree' 
ably  to  this  determination, the  trains,  which  had  been  previous- 

luS\  r'^  ^?'^  ^"'^^  ^PP'°^"^  "^^'^^  ^"^>«y'  ^nd  the  pub- 
he  buildmgs,  stores,  and  vessels  were  soon  wrapped  in  flames, 

whirr'' '".^'''''°^'^'  "^^/P^"^^  '^'  '-^  sXoncr  L^nx 
which  escaped  in  an  extraordinary  manner      The  issuing  storJ 

of  the  yard,  and  its  contents,  which  had  escaped  the  original 

conflagration,  were  soon  after  totally  destroyed  by  the  enlmy. 

The  only  loss  which  the  enemy  sustained  in  the  city  was  at 

h'anfin  hr"-.  .VT^^^^^-^^  --sent  down  t?dItroy 
It,  and  m  the  midst  of  their  devastations,  a  firebrand  having 
been  thrown  into  a  dry  well  in  which  a  quantity  of  powder  had 
been  previously  hidden,  it  exploded  with  great  violence,  by 
which  a  number  of  lives  were  lost. 

Nearly  the  whole  of  the  male  population  having  joined  the 
army,  a  great  number  of  houses  vere  broken  open  and  plun- 
dered by  the  blacks  and  a  few  disorderly  inhabitants.  The 
conduct  of  the  British  in  genei-al  was  orderly  * 

fhe  utmost  eff-orts  of  general  Winder  were  now  devoted  to 
collect  his  troops,  and  to  prepare  them  to  move  down  toward 
the  city,  and  hang  upon  and  strike  at  the  enemy  whenever  an 
opportumty  occurred.  The  next  morning,  however,  intelli- 
gence was  received  that  the  enemy  had  moved  from  Washing. 
ton  the  preceding  night,  and  was  in  full  march  for  Baltimore. 
^M^flT7  f^  advanced  as  rapidly  as  was  pracUcable  to 
Uiat  city;  but  on  his  arrival  at  Snell's  bridge,  on  the  Patuxent 
Winder  learned  that  the  enemy  was  proceeding  to  Marlbo- 
rough, and  not  toward  Baltimore.  ^        iviarioo 

.    Having  completed  the  destruction  of  the  public  buildings 
in  the  -course  of  the  25th,  the   British  left  the  city  TniS 


r.,J^/     T  ^'''  ''"'l^'''  i^^f^rnous)    Cockburn  mu,t   be  ex. 

Bruish  adrmral  as  n-anly  to  revenge  himself  on  the  iiroJrtu 
o/a  /.n...r,  W.0,  /..  said,  had  been  giving  him  some  hirdrubl 
^  file  of  soldiers  nx^ere  employed  to  ransack  his  office  and  des- 

Thlra    T'f  «''''^^''—      ^^^«^  -  magnarmrofssM^cJ^^^ 
-ii'hat  a  chivalrous  sfiirit  was  here  dlsfilayed! 


KISTOHV    OF  THE  WAA. 


17  f 


tlut  night,  and  by  a  rapid  march  reach. 

On  the  evening  of  the     9th  they 


cot  ''se  of  the  next  day. 


led 


Marlborough  m  the 
Bcned 
ivicanvvnile  captain  Gordon  proceeded  up  the  Potomac  with 

wo  Zw°"k'- '""'^f  'S  °^  ^^^  frigates,  two  bomb-vesres 
two  rocket^ships,  and      schooner.     Owing  to  the  shoais,  an 

about7ftZ  '  -t'^  ^r  "^'  "^^"  ^«  '•^^'^^  ^«*^  Washington, 
27th  r^n?  :  u"'  '^^^  ^^^y^  ""^i^  t^«  ^ve  ing  of  the 
thet;retLt'^Vh"  k'^^'v  ^r."-^  ""^er  Ross  had  cotSmcnced 
K  T.[  f  u^*"*"  bomb.ships  immediately  began  .o  bom- 
bard  the  for'    but  on  the  bursting  of  the  first  shell,  the  garrhon 

Z^rT:^  ^y^"''^'^  -^^^^  -  -  «hort  time,  to  the  gS  r 
,mse  of  the  British  commander,  the  fort  was  blown  up. 

t5n!^  ,!.^^  British  army  first  h  ''t  the  Patuxent,  their  destina- 
Iw  w  t"°'  ^'  ^T'^^i  ^y  e^"^"*^*  Winder  Baltimore, 
enei  ^Fon"^""";  ^"'^  '^^  ^t^T^  ""^^  ^^^"^^^  equally  threlt^ 
conil  J.H  1  *^'''  '^  ""tf  ^  '  ommands  the  Potomac,  was 
considered  almost  impre^^mable  to  anj  attack  by  water,  thoueh 
AJ^n'^  be  defended  against  ai  large  force  bHand 
case  the  B^?";h'''  ^^T'^1"'''  ^eret.re,\as  instmLd,  in 
thefnlf       H  ^^"^y  «^,^^W  approach  his  rear,  to  blowup 

the  fort,  and  proceed  with  hh  romnund  across  the  Potomack 

than^^  t^H^-  "''  ^'"*^'^'  ^''^"^  '^''  ^"^^"^i«"  °f  general  wTnder 
L.b  J^f  ''  important  post  should  be  deserted,  on  being  at- 
tacked by  a  naval  force,*  '  ^ 

Nothing  was  now  left  to  oppose  the  progress  of  the  Brit- 
ish  squadron,  and  they  proceeded  slowly^  up  the  river  to 
Alexandria,  with  their  barges  employed  in  sounding  Tn  ad! 

On  the  day  preceding  'he  battle  of  Bladensbu^,  a  commit- 
ee  of  vigilance,  which  i.ad  been  appointed  by  t^  kihabTtrnts 
to  watch  over,  the  safety  of  Alexandria,  In  this  time  of  pe?H 
despairmg,  they  allege,  of  receiving  a^y  assistance  from^  the 
general  government,  and  having  infoi-mation  of  the  rapkl  Zl 
proach  of  the  enemy  towards  the  capital  by  land,  and  that  thX 
squadron  was  approaching  Alexandria  by  wat^r,  deemed 


thattT  TZ  f''*"'^'  ^"^  J^^mcation,  that  he  had  learnt 

and  tL  T""'^       "^  *'?  reinforced  at  Benedict,  2000  stronff, 
tnaJ^t       ?  '"T"  r  '^"''  '"'"''^'  ''  co^ofierate  nvith  the  fleet, 

martialy  and  dis7mssed  the  service. 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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Ja 


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17^8 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


their  duty  to  recommend  to  the  common  council  the  passage 
of  a  resolution,  that  m  case  the  British  vessels  should  pa!s 
lnu?AC  ^^^^L, f?^^^«/PP«>ach  the  town  by  land,  and  there 
should  be  no  sufficient  force  to  oppose  them,  with  aiiy  reason- 
able prospect  of  success,  they  should  appoint  a  committee  to 
f^ZV  ?^?u     !     ""^""Z  commanding  the  enemy's  force  about 

r?nwf.^f     I'u     T"»  ^c^  ^°  P'°^"'^  ^^^  b^«t  terms  in  their 
power  for  the  safety  of  .persons,  houses,  and  property.     This 
resolution  was  unammously  adopted  by  the  common  council, 
and  on  the  arrival  of  the  British  at  Washington,  a  flag  was 
WhtV      ^"t^f  5°JP"^ander  there,  to  know  what  treatment 
might  be  expected  from  him,  in  case  his  troops  should  ap- 
I)roach  Alexandixa,  and  should  succeed  in  obtaining  posses- 
Tn^tK        i*''''"' .  ^^^  deputation  were  assured  by  admiral 
rp^r.^  .  "2'  l^  .  P"""^^^  property  of  all  descriptions  should  be 
5n!Pr^^  ^  K^^  '^  was  probable  that  fresh  provisions  and  some 
be    aid  for'       "^^"^    '        ^^^^  whatever  they  did  take  should 
After  the  blowing  up  of  Fort  Washington  a  similar  deputa- 
tion was  dispatched  to  the  naval  commander.  But  Gordon  had 
other  intentions  than  those  avowed  by  Cockburn.    He  would 
give  no  reply  until  he  had  placed  his  shipping  in  such  a  posi- 
K°1^!  T  .*i^^^°^"'  a/  wouW  ensure  assent  to  the  hard  terms 
he  had  decided  to  enforce.     These  were,  the  surrender  ot  all 
navai  and  ordnance  stores,  public  and  private,  and  all  the  ship- 
ping  and  merchandise  of  the  town.     Gordon  having  arranged 
his  vessels  along  the  town,  the  defenceless  inhabitants  were 
forced  to  submit;  and  the  plunderers  took  possession  of  three 

fl3'  tnnn^^^u '  ^r^?^  \^^  ^"^  "^^^  ^^^f^>  '  6'000  barrels  of 
flour,  1000  h|K8heads  of  tobacco,  150  bales  of  cotton,  and  wine, 
sugar,  and  other  articles  to  the  value  of  about  5000  dollars. 

But  though  Gordon,  with  his  buccaneering  crew,  had  thus 
taken  possession  of  Alexandria,  without  a  single  gun  being  fir- 
ed  agamst  him,  he  ,was  not  destined  to  carry  off  his  booty  en- 

Z^X^^l^^r^'-  .^^"^,':^.^Hungerford  arrived  near  Alexan- 
dna  with  the  Virginia  militia,  and  commodores  Rodgers,  Por- 
ter,  and  Perry,  with  a  detachment  of  sailors  from  Baltimore, 
was  not  deemed  proper  to  disturb  the  enemy  at  Alexandria, 
as  that  would  probably  cause  the  destruction  of  the  place.  Com- 
modore Porter,  therefore,  proceeded  down  the  river,  and  threw 
up  an  entrenchment  on  a  bluff,  not  far  from  *  he  ruins  of  the  fort, 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river;  and  commodore  Perry  threw 
up  another  a  little  below.  The  arrival  of  a  small  despatch  ves- 
sel,  which  had  to  light  its  way  past  Porter's  battery,  convinced 
Gordon  he  had  no  time  to  lose,  and  he  therefore  precipitately 


--^x 


A 


il  the  passage 
B  should  pass 
md,  and  there 
;h  any  reason- 
cammittee  to 
*s  force  about 
erms  in  their 
3perty.  This 
imon  council, 
n,  a  "flag  was 
hat  treatment 
)s  should  ap- 
Jiing  posses- 
id  by  admiral 
•ns  should  be 
ons  and  some 
i  take  should 

iiilar  deputa- 
t  Gordon  had 
.    He  would 

such  a  posi- 
e  hard  terms 
render  ot  all 

all  the  ship- 
ng  arranged 
bitants  were 
sion  of  three 
00  barrels  of 
on,  and  wine, 
0  dollars. 
3W,  had  thus 
an  being  fir- 
lis  booty  en- 
lear  Alexan- 
3dgers,  Por- 
t  Baltimore. 
Alexandria, 
place.  Com- 
r,  and  threw 
s  of  the  fort, 
Perry  threw 
Jspatch  ves- 
■,  convinced 
recipitately 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR.  j^^ 

a  bo^bl'nrLth '^*'  ^^''^^''  «°«'°>' first  sent  down 
operations  on  Por  er  "Cerv  TL' K  "T'i?  commenced  their 
;n.^nt.  ontof  the  r:X^'Httt't4^stS|o^^^^^^^ 

private  cSS  acted  t'/  '?™"  "1^''  '"'^  militia  officers  and 
Htia,  *h„  were  ordered  t^Tl""'  ?'""^  Hungerford's  „S- 

The  firing  \r  ted  a  f  dav  witL?.  •  ^°"^^^».^hem  from  view, 
fell  nes..,  and  bur  over  fhrh  ?.  intermission;  several  shells 
feet  than  to  accusto  TthV^n v  f  ^'u^"V^^'  ^'^^  "«  «ther  ef- 
noon,  Porter  took  ^n  ethSef  no?,  'h  '  ^f""^'"'  ^"  ^^^  ^^^^r- 
point,  about  a  mL  distal?  and  r^^^'  ^^  ^."^^"^  advanced 
ship,  which  di^  o  muTe^Tc^^^^^  "  ^''  °"  '^'  '^^"^b. 

of  all  the  vessek    inrSf  u^  ^^  *°  ^''^^  «»  Wm  the  fire 

brig  wi,ic  rd^dV^^peddo^^^^  »"  ^"  '*^'--  bZ 

ship.     The  .atte7at'Cng\  S  reaTh^'/thl  7,^  '  L"^"^^' 
was  enabled  to  play  on  her  wi  h  J^eat  ell,     T'^'  ^°'^" 
her  to  change  her  Dosition      An.i?    j    «''««' and  compelled 
night,  the  enemy  kent  in  a  brdfitf*^'/  ™5  ""^  succeeding 
Within  a  few^oui  of  the  d"-'  °^"'?'','''""»'  ^"O  rockets^ 
<lore  Podgers  arrtt^d  at  A1Pv?nT"'"f  °^'''?  ^?«">y'  commo- 
small  fire-vessels/undei    ht  nroTer?-^  from  ab„^e,  with  three 
ters  manned  with^Ct  60  seame„  ar™.°f  ^"'^^i  ''''^Ses  or  cut- 
immediately  proceeded  to  a^LrTlT""''  "»>5kets.     He 
which  lay  about  two  miles  befow    t/T,'"  ""^  "  bomb-ship, 
as  they  were  within  rrachof^h7;nI       "'"'''=  "' ""=  ^""d,  just 
cial  effect  bein^  produced     On  ?h^  '''  P''«''««'*''  ""7  benefi. 
the  enemy's  bol^  Xt  i^^n^t^  ^^Tf  J.?A^'!°'^  "f 


«:,■**"«; 


y 


18Q 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


lr:i 


^  towmg  off  the  fire-vessels,  and  the  remainder  in  pursuit  of 
Rodger's  cutters.  They  did  not,  however,  venture  to  come 
within  musket  shot,  though  much  superior  both  in  force  a^d 
numbers  but  continued  at  a  distance  firing  their  great  guns  for 
about  half  an  hour,  and  then  retired  to  their  ships         ^ 

1  he  following  day  another  fire-vessel  was  prepared;  but  it 
being  calm,  Rodgers  ordered  his  lieutenant 'and  the  four  cut 

11  J    r^'T^:!''''^-  ^  "^^*^'*'  ^^'-^yi^g  ^"  eighteen  pounder, 
to  attack  a  bomb-ship,  which,  in  the  anxiety  of  the  enemv  to 
get  below  the  works  which  Porter  and  Perry  had  throw7un 
had  been  left  exposed  to  attack.     At  sun-set,  Lwever   just  fs^ 
he  was  about  to  give  orders  to  attack  the  bomb,  Rodgers^ disco! 

him  toTnf  ''\'"r^''  ^"^^.^^^  ^'^'^^"^  ^  P«i»^'  whi^ch  obTged 
him  to  relmqmsh  this  determination,  and  give  orders  to  oro 

fr..m"*^'  Virginia  shore,  to  haullp  the  boats^and 

olZeneSy^^^^^  be  defended  against  the  barges 

tion  t''".?'''^  ''*''^^^^  f^  "^g^^'  Rodgers  again  shifted  his  situa- 
tion  to  the  opposite  shore,  owing  to  a  man  being  seized  under 
suspicious  circumstances  on  the  beach,  near  a  small  boat,  about 
a  mils  above  the  enemy's  headmost  ship.  The  cutters  were 
now  hauled  up,  the  lighter  placed  in  an  advantageous  posidon^ 
and  the  seamen  on  the  top  of  a  cliff  overlooking  the  river 
bcarcely  had  this  arrangement  been  completed,  when  an  attack 

iXIJJfn   ^^  ""  '^"  '"""^>"^  ^^''g^^'     ^'  ^^«  "^-t  ^ith  great 
intrepidity,  the  enemy  were  thrown  into  confusion,  and  driven 

back  with  loss.     The  only  injury  which  Rodgers  sustained, 
was  one  man  wounded  on  board  the  lighter. 

The  work  at  Porter's  battery  continued  to  go  on  ;  five  liffht 
iield-pieces,  from  four  to  six  pounders,  arrived  and  were  plant- 
ed,  and  hopes  were  entertained  of  soon  receiving  some  lon^ 
Uuity-two  pounders  from  Washington  i  a  furnace  was  built 
or  hot  shot,  and  time  only  appeared  necessary  to  make  the  bat- 
tery formmable.  The  whole  of  the  4th  and  5th,  an  incessant 
fire  was  kept  up  by  the  enemy  night  and  day.  He  had  once  at- 

St  .H^  "^  ^i  u  ^^^»  ''  '^  supposed  with  an  intention  of 
spiking  the  guns  of  the  battery,  but  was  repulsed  by  the  picket 
guard.  The  plan  of  annoying  him  by  advancing  guns  was  now 
adopted  with  better  effect  than  before.  The  rocket-ship  lyinL^ 
close  m  shore,  was  much  cut  up  by  a  twelve.pounder  and  two 
sixes  carried  to  a  point;  scarcely  a  shot  missed  its  hull,  and 
tor  one  hour  the  fire  of  all  the  enemy's  forca  was  drawn  to  this 
point. 

The  want  of  ammunition  now  caused  a  suspension  of  firine 
i^t  the  battery  at  ^  most  unfortuDB^te  moment,  just  as  commo 


HISTOHY  OF  THE  WAR. 


IBl 


enemy  befn^thureffl t'XeVt";^^^  ^^e 

tion  towards  him,  Rode-ers  LTf  a  n  °^  ^^^^^  atteu- 
^aturely,  and  oVder  hif  ^LT .  T^  '®  ^''^  ^^^  ^^^sel  pre- 
taken  possessionrbv  th^nl'^,  '"'^'k''  '"^  ^^^"^  ^h^"'  ^Sng 

Some  thirtyro  p'ounrr^ToHrr^^^^^^^ 
carpenters  were  employed  famJI/.      •      '  ^^^  baUery,  and 
a  large  quantity  of  ammunitro^ln  '™8^^?-     Two  mortars, 
shells  were  also  reS     two  hl^"  abundance  of  shot  and 

t'very  thing  promised  that  the  batte/r'  ""^T  ^^^^PPi"'?'  and 
^a.propers!a^for  annoyh^^e  el^r"  n  T ''"^ '^^^  ^"^i" 
fiigates  anchored  above;  makino-fh^^K  ,  r '^^  evening  two 
opposed  to  the  battery' Srer?.w''^''^f  ^"'^^  °*"^^^^  «^^^^ 
sloop  of  war,  a  brig  a^sch^oner  a^^H'^  '^T'  ^^^^^^-ships,  I 
together  173  guns      The  ^nn!'  *^^  ^^''Sres,  carrying  al- 

three  18  pounders,  two  12^1^""'^'^  "^  "^^  ^^"«^T  were 

fours.     Ue  two  mo  ^rs  w^re  withom  c  '  ^'""^''^'  ^"^  ^^° 
the  thirty-two's,  for  noVwjTw  '"^'.^^^"^  carnages,  as  were  all 

both  at  \Vashingt^    7d  ofX  "tf  T '^  '^"^^  ''^'  "^^^i 
pleted  in  time".  ^  ^^^  'P^''  ^^^X  ^ould  not  be  com^ 

tK^'CP^  ^  enemy  showing  a  disposl- 

Hungerford,  and  preparations  madP  t5       "^l"  '^"^  ^°  ^^neral 
jy  with  hot  shot.    Ablt    2  o'cTock  ttTo  f'^'^l'*  '^'^  ^^"^• 
way,  with  a  fair  wind  and  tide    and  .tJ^/'"'^^^^'  ^^ot  under  , 
sloop,  bomb-vessels  bri«>  .lu  ^^^  ^^^^"^  the  rocket^ 

cession,  the  gun!b(^ts  end/.     ''"^''  ^"^P^^^s  followedin  sue: 

nght.  wir"L'rdi:^i^^^^^^^^ 

Hungerford,  to  request  hiL  t^ Take  tht  -  P.^^^^r  ^^  general 
in  the  woods  on  the  heieht^h.Vfn^Lrif?."^'*'''"  ^^^^^ed  upoa 
and  the  quick  apDroach%^  ?^  '^'^^^"''^  °^^is  ^am^ 

before  th^e  firinTcTmtetced  Tn?^^  ^-^nm^  to  ma7b 
'^endered,  impossible^  from  ti  •  v«i  ^^'^\}^^^  Period,  it  was 

«oodthe  broadsides  of  ^l1^i^!v^•  ™«  ""i""  »nd^me^ 
But  fromthe  militia  not  makZ  Z'-''  ""P""'"^'^'!  firmness.. 
Qf  the  enemy's.fire  wis  di««e3L^hf  KPr*™"^«'  *«  "h'te 
fore,(indineWtin  a  few  S,es  a^l^r-^-  ,P?««'»  tbe«- 
be  brouglit  to  bear  on  hinr.n^L.i  *■"""•"  *  *°'"««  *o»I<l 
venting  his  passing  as  »me,?fh^'^J"?S»o.  hopes  of  pre- 
and  v,„\nded,  hnitermZl^  .""*"  u***  ^'■■"d)'  been  kilted. 
When  th«  «,U  was™  ?h1  'S.^Ji^^^.f  »?«'«»;  »«rifice,. 


«<^*'''' 


18^2 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


battery,  therefore,  after  sustaining  his  fire  an  hour  and  a  quar- 
ter, the  commodore  directed  the  officers  and  men  to  retire  be- 
hind a  hill  on  the  left,  and  be  in  readiness  to  charge  the  enemy 
It  he^should  land  to  spike  the  guns.  The  two  frigates  anchor- 
ea  abreast,  the  bombs,  sloops,  and  smaller  vessels  passed  out- 
side them,  all  pouring  into  the  battery  and  neighbouring  woods 
a  tremendous  fire  of  every  description  of  missive.  In  the 
woods  on  the  left,  a  company  of  riflemen  from  Jefferson  coun- 
ty, Virgmia,  under  captain  George  W.  Humphreys,  greatly 
distinguished  themselves  by  a  well-directed  fire  on  the  ene- 
my  s  decks,  as  did  a  company  of  militia  under  the  command  of 
captain  Gena,  who  was  posted  on  the  right.  The  first  lost  one 
man  killed,  and  one  sergeant  and  four  privates  wounded;  the 
latter,  two  privates  killed.  After  the  bombs,  gun-vessels,  and 
prizes  had  all  passed,  the  frigates  proceeded  down  and  anchor- 
ed abreast  of  commodore  Perry's  battery,  where  a  constant' 
firihg^  was  kept  up  until  after  sun-set. 

But  the  guns  of  Perry's  battery  were  of  too  small  calibre  to 
make  much! impression  on  the  enemy.  A  single  eighteen 
pounder,  which  arrived  only  thirty  minutes  before  the  firing 
began,  ill  supplied  with  ammunition,  was  the  only  gun  that 
could  be  of  much  service.  The  ammunition  of  this  gun,  and 
that  of  several  of  the  six-pounders,  being  expended,  and  the 
fire  of  the  enemy  being  very  heavy,  it  was  thought  advisable 
to  retire  a  short  distance  in  the  rear.  This  was  done  in  good 
order,  after  sustaining  their  fire  for  more  than  an  hour. 

The  advantageous  situation  of  this  battery  prevented  the 
enemy  from  doing  much  injury.  Only  one  man  was  wounded. 
The  number  of  killed  and  wounded  at  commodore  Porter's  bat- 
tery did  not  exceed  thirty.  Th  'oss  of  the  enemy  was  seven 
killed,  and  thirty-five  wounded. 

Sir  Peter  Parker,  who  was  sent  up  the  Chesapeake  to  make 
a  diversion  in  favour  of  this  expedition,  was  the  least  fortunate 
of  the  commanders.  He  met  his  death  in  a  conflict  with  a  small 
body  of  militia  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Maryland,  under  the  com- 
mand of  colonel  Reid. 

A  force  of  about  150  men  was  landed  at  night  from  his  ves- 
sel, at  the  head  of  which  he  placed  himself,  with  the  intention 
of  surprising  the  militia  in  their  camp.  The  movement  of  the 
British  barges,  however,  had  been  discovered,  and  every  pre- 
paration was  made  to  give  them  a  warm  reception.  The  camp 
and  baggage  were  removed,  and  the  troops  posted  on  a  rising 
ground,  flanked  on  both  sides  with  woods,  with  the  artillery  in 
the  centre.  Thj^iead  of  the  enemy's  colur^n  soon  appeared, 
and  received  th«i?e  of  the  American  ad^p^  at  ro  paces  dis- 


V 

\ 


UW- 


•e  a  constant 


ny  wa«  seven 


HISTORY  OF  THE  W^R.  193 

TaI%a  f^^?-  P'^^^!^  by  superior  numbers,  the  advance  were 
ordered  to  retire,  and  form  on  the  right  of  the  1?  le.  The  fir^ 
now  became  general,  and  was  sustained  by  the  mili  ia  with  the 
most  determmed  valour.     The  enemy  pressed  in  f  ont;  b^t  be- 

or  tne  men  had  more  than  a  few  rounds,  although  each  had 
brought  twenty  mto  the  field.  The  artillery  cartridges  were 
entirely  expended.  Under  these  circumstances  the  trLn! 
were  ordered  to  fall  back  to  a  convenS^pot;^^^^         paZf 

'^^.Zll^'^t':"'^^^  P-P-^  «^  §istributing%rr:f 
But  the  enemy  having  sustained  a  severe  loss  found  it  more 
prudent  to  retreat  than  to  pursue.  They  retired  to  the  b^ach 
carrying  with  them  all  the  wounded  they  could  find,  amon J 
whom  was  sir  Peter  Parker,  who  expired  a  few  minutes Te? 
being  carried  from  the  field.  The  loss  of  the  British  on  tw' 
occasion  was  U  killed  and  27  wounded.  The  AmeTa^s  had 
only  three  wounded.  Nothing  but  the  want  of  ammunkio^could 

w-Tfi?  '^^  r-^^!;^  P^^'y  ^^  ^^e  British  from  capture 
_    With  the  multitude,  success  in  war  is  generally  sunnosed  to 
indicate  wisdom  in  our  rulers,  while  defelt  is  unifSv  attri° 

pos'es  The'Jia::^^"''  '^^k^^'  "^^'^"^^«'  -  '^  treasonTbfe  pu  . 
Iw  u  lA.  ^^J"^^^^  Which  arose  out  of  the  disaster  of  our  anns 
which  led  to  the  capture  of  Washington,  was  particuhrinf ' 
rectedagamst  general  Winder,  wh6%ommand^ed  the  Tmer 
can  forces,  and  general  Armstrong,  the  secretary  of  warbut 
chiefly  against  the  latter.  So  violm  was  the  fermenrof  the 
pi^hc  mmd  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  that  the  presWen  was 
Zl  S.y^^^'*^^  the  clamour  and  request  the  secretary  toTe! 
SryKr  ""  '"''^"  '^"'  '>'  '^^^^"^^  Monroe,Ve  II 

ton?nH  ^°?^"" V  •  '^^  ^^^'j'^  ^^"^  i"  possession  of  Washing- 

zed^ntinif^T  Tk'  "  ""'"^^^^  ^  P^^"^'  ^^  '^^  history  of  c  vii 
zed  nations.    In  the  wars  of  modern  Europe,  no  exampkrof    ' 

an  iff'  'T  T^^u^  "^'^^"^  ^^«  "^«*t  hoffi  e  to  each  other 
can  be  trac  ^d.  In  the  :ourse  of  the  last  ten  or  twelve  years 
mostofthe  capitals  xif  the  principal  powers  of  EurOne  have 

y  t  "no'orinsl^cr? ^^^^^^  ^^  ''''''''^^'  ^^^  victorioSCops! 
Ton  fe^^^i  "'^a'".^*'  "^^"'^^  ^"d  unjustifiable  destruc- 

tion  S^been  seen..   And  yet  this  is  the  chief  whose  conduct 


ammsmm 


184 


MISTOAY   OF  THE  WAR. 


Of  dvS  tr  '""''^'^  *'  '^"''^'^^  ^^  °"^-Sing  all  the  laws 

unde^p  the  niJl^''?  attempted  to  justify  this  wanton  destruction, 
under  the  plea  of  retaliation.     Admiral  Cochrane,  in  a  letter  to 
the  secretaiy  of  state,  dated  the  day  previous  tothe  debarkl 
tion  of  Ross's  army,  though  not  deliVe^ed  till  after  the  destru? 
turn  at  Washmgton,  stated,  that  havmg  beercal  ed  upon  by' 
the  governor.general  of  the  Canadas  tolid  him  in  carryiC  in^^ 

United  staTerr'th'^'^'^'^^'T  ^^'^^"^^  '^'  inha'.itants'ofthe 
arnlrnnif  '  ?^^^^'^^"^.''"  destruction  committed  by  their 
3      ^P^^'  ^^'J^^^'  "  h^^  ^^^^"'^  imperiouMy   his  cfmt 
conformably  with  the  nature  of  the  governor-general's  anDUcJ' 

Td'e  trov  "and  V'' "^^^*  *'^T  ""^^^  '^^  co^mmand  ^^^e" 
to  destroy  and  lay  waste  such  towns  and  districts  unon  thl 
coast  as  might  be  found  assailable.  ^^^^ricts  upon  the 

This  general  accusation  was  rtibdtted  by  Mr  Monroe  in  k;= 
answer  to  thin  Sr>tt»»      'n  —  "ii^-vi  uy  lui.  ^vionroe,  in  nis 

answer  to  this  letter.  1  he  secretary  declared  it  to  have  been 
the  resolution  of  government,  from  the  very  commencement 
of  tne  war,  to  wage  it  in  a  manner  most  consonant  tTtheS 
ciples  o^  humanity,  and  to  those  friendly  relations  which  it^was 
desirable  to  preserve  between  the  twoSiations  after  the  res' 

£^^'Zff  ^TT  ^^^'  ^^««^"'i«"  h^d  never'been  deviated 
from,  although  it  was  perceived,  with  the  deepest  rearer  that 
a  spirit  so  just  and  humane  was  neither  cherished  nor  Icted 
uponbytheBrtish  government.     Without  dwelllnron  the 

tttnd  in  Brhffh  T "'"^/  '^  -^^^^  ^^^^^^  ^  "^'  ^^^ 
ranks,  and  in  British  pay,  on  American  prisoners  at  the  river 

^yith'thT^^    .  ^  secretary,  as  more  immediately  connected 

was  coiwtet^^^^  '"^''  '°  '^'^  ^^"^«"  ^«^«i-^i«n  that 
was  committed  at  Havre-de-Grace,  and  at  Georgetown,  earlr 

jn  the  sprmg  of  1813.   These  viUages  were  burSd  ravaged 

aL'e'S  illunts"  ^l"""^^^  ^-^l^"'  ^  the^rn  ^fthTfn' 
armed  mhabitants,  who.  saw  with  astonishment  that  they  de- 

Dul^tfr^''^^"  '"  ''''''  P^^P^^y  ^'^^  the  laws  "Fwar.. 
During  the  same  season,  scenes  ijf  invasion  and  pillaffe,  car- 

w^terToTtt/^tf  "%'"^'°"^^'  ^'''  witnessed  a^lal^^^The 
waters  ot  the  Chesapeake,  to  an  extent  inflicting  the  most  se- 
rious private  distress,  and  under  circumstances^hat  Sfied 
motivTtW  ^H^^^'if;^^      ""l^  '""^^'y*  '^'^'^  than  kimaily 

irrtL^rp:i:pt^^^^^^^^  ^'^  ^^^^^^^^  ^^-  "^'^^^-^^^^  f-' 

Although  these  acta  of  desolation  invited,  if  thev  did  not 
«npo»e  on  the  government,  the  necessity  ofaiJilSirm  to 


ng  all  the  laws 


aiSTORV   OF  THE  WAR,  135 

nd  Instance  has  it  been  authorised.*     The  burning  of  the  vil 
lage  of  Newark,  in  Upper  Canada,  was  posteriori  the  eart 

^\no  ordered  it,  on  the  ground  that  h  became  necessary  in  the 

bT ttl^oTe^nm:^^^^  '""T.'    k''^  ^^^'  ^^^^^'^^'  ^^  ^-"-^ 
PninfJ  u  • .  ^^^  burning  which  took  place  at  Lona> 

oftreX""'''K'^°"'',^^y''^"^«^^''""^'^"t,  and  the  condTc^ 
nil      Fo^  th.  h   J''''^  to  the  investigation  of  a  military  triiu- 
T.\I         I  ^^rnin^  at  St.  David's,  committed  by  stra^fflers 
out  trUl'?  ''^'  f  on^manded  in  that  quarter  was  dism     ed  wkh! 
out  trial,  for  not  preventing  it. 

tinuei^h?"""'""'^^'^  \  ^^?  president  distinctly  to  state,  con- 
T^rut      l^^^'^^^'T,  that  it  as  little  comports  xvith  any  orders 

of  the  uXd  sT/''"'^-^^;'*^  "^^""^^y  ^"^  "--»  command  : 
humLuv  of  th.  i  *  '•  ''  ^""'^  ""''^  '^^  established  and  known 
numamty  ot  the  American  nation,  to  pursue  a  system  which  it 

tTK"  LTi^;'  'iT\  This'gov'ernment  oCsTtrotself 
ustt  chTrSfeTnf  ''  *^''  T'  '^^^^  ^^^^^^'  ^°  ^'^^^^^  ^^ 
ble  warfar?  wh  ?^^^  ^"^  ''''u  '^.^"'°"'  "^^^'>  ^"^  unjustifia- 
been  commift.TK  ''^'  unauthorised  irregularity  m^y  have 
actiL  r?i.  ^^  *"y,°^  ".'  ^°**P''  i*  ^°"W  have  been  ready, 
disavow  VnH      ?""^^P^^.«  of  sacred  and  eternal  obligation,  to 

bTTi;.  "1  ^'  ^^'  ^'  "?^Sht  be  practicable,  to  repair^        ' 
this  J^enP  J    r""'"**'  '^  ^PP'^'^'  was  mistaken  in  attributing 
CaL^r  to  Ih.  'J^!  '^'•^"''  i^^"  American  troops  in  Vp^^ 
secr'etjyl  ,ill.^'TH'''°"  ^  ?""^^^  ^""^^^  ^^  in  the 

the  S'ill  n  r  ^^"^  &o^«^«or  of  Canada,  in  an  address  to 
lerted  «  hi/  P"'^^"^^"^'  ?"  t^«  24th  of  January,  1815,  as- 
ine  on  h«H  ^  ^'  ^  just  retribution,  the  proud  capitol  at  Wash- 

Ameri^.n  f   ^P''''"u''*  *  '^"^^^^^  ^^^^  ^o  that  inflicted  by  an' 
American  force  on  the  seat  of  government  in  Upper  Canada 


;,Zr^  ^r{  ''^'^''y^  ^''''  ofofiinion,  that  our  government  wa^ 

ZrZenlaLfTL       ^^^^  «  ^^'^'^^  ^nUeal  to  the  British  go- 
TheZZZ         '^"^'^^d,  on  the  subject  of  these  devastations. 

bu  Z  fr  ,  -^T'  *"'  ^y  f''''''''^  '^^^'^/'  ^^^^  generally  led 
cannot  tZ'  ^'^f  «/'/'«'-^«^^!/  ^n  a  systematic  ianr^r'  We 
'^^J^'l^J^^Soursdves  to  believe,  that  if  a  decided  4iand  had 
bee.i  taken,  this  abominable  system  of  outrage  would  have  can 

TZ:  '"^'"^  '''  ''''''  '^  tn'chesallaTet^^hriuT^ 


0 


186 


HISTORY  ©F  THE  WAR. 


and  the  chancellor  of  the  exchequer,  in  a  debate  in  the  British 
parliament,  on  an  address  to  the  prince  regent,  in  November, 
1814,  was  still  more  explicit.  The  Americans  at  York,  he 
asserted,  "not  only  burnt  the  house  of  the  governor,  but  also 
217  *^°."f.  belonging  to  the  meanest  individual,  even  to  a 
Shell,  and  left  the  populace  in  the  most  wretched  condition." 

1  hus,  m  the  great  as  in  the  little  world,  one  wrong  inevita- 
bly treads  on  the  heels  of  another.  The  same  cowardly  spirit 
which  dictated  the  orders  for  devastating  the  American  coast, 
was  apparent  on  this  occasion,  when,  cowering  under  the  re- 
proaches  of  their  compatriots  for  the  stain  they  had  cast  on  the 
British  arms,  the  mmistry  were  forced  to  shelter  themselves 
under  the  most  base  and  malignant  untruths.  But  the  reign 
of  falsehood  IS  always  short.  These  official  assertions  produced 
an  investigation  of  the  subject  by  congress,  which  must  cover 
with  shame  the  authors  of  this  slander. 

Froni  this  investigation  it  appears,  that  nothing  was  destroy- 
ed by  the  American  commander,  excepting  the  barracks  and 
public  storehouses.     That  several  of  the  most  valuable  public 
wW^?K  were  destroyed  by  the    explosion  of  a  magazine, 
which  the  British  set  fire  to  as  the  Americans  enterld  the 
place,  and  which  proved  fatal  to  general  Pike,  and  to  a  vast 
number  of  his  brave  followers.     That  notwithstanding  this 
great  provocation  for  burning  the  town,  nothing  of  the  kind 
took  place;  a  strong  guard  was  set,  with  positive  orders  to  prevent 
any  plunder  or  depredation  on  the  inhabitants;  and  when  leav- 
mg  the  place,  the  commander  of  the  American  troops  received 
a  letter  from  judge  Scott,  chief  justice  of  the  superior  court, 
m  which  he  expressed  his  thanks  for  the  humane  treatment 
the  inhabitants  had  experienced  from  his  troops,  and  for  the 
commander's  particular  attention  to  the  safety  of  their  persons 
and  property.     The  destruction  of  public  edifices  for  civil 
uses  was  not  only  unauthorised,  but  positively  forbidden  by  the 
American  comnrianders.     It  has  recently  however,  appeared, 
that  a  public  buildmg,  of  little  value,  called  the  parliament- 
house  Cr-Jt  the  government  house),  had  been  burnt,  in  which 
an  American  scalp  was  found,  (as  appears  by  the  official  letter 
ot  commodore  Chauncey,  to  the  secretary  of  the  navy),  as  a 
part  of  the  decoration  of  the  speaker's  chair,  whether  it  was 
an  accidental  consequence  of  the  confusion  in  which  the  ex- 
plosion of  the  magazine  involved  the  town,  or  the  unauthorised 
act  of  some  exasperated  individual,  has  not  been  ascertained. 
Ihe  silence  of  the  military  and  civil  officers  of  the  provincial 
government  of  Canada,  seem  to  indicate  that  the  transaction 
was  not  deemed,  when  it  occurred,  a  cause,  either  for  retalia- 
tion or  reproach. 


HISTORT  OF  THE  WAB. 


ler 


ThTm,,         "^     ,'^*"'="'''  »""*  °f  *e  Indian  towns  on  the  river 
;.«^  .'  ^"T""'*'  '=*"=•'  'he  Moravian  towns,  are  also  Id- 
verted  to  in  the  report  arising  out  of  this  investicrarinn     Tk 
burn„g  of  Newark,  it  is  statfd.  was  vindlcSne  Amer  " 

dZl  tL  «h    ff"'''"  government  heard  of  it,  instmetions! 
dated  the  6th  ot  January,  18U,  were  given  by  the  deDartment 

of  The'oS'"';;^'"""*'  >^">'»'""'  "'°  di'aviw  ttCZct 
Pr^vo  .  *■?  '""""'"ed  it.  and  to  transmit  to  governor 

and  on  the  lcJ.rrT'""'^\'^^  accordingly  communicated, 
"  that  it  hai  hlf    l.T'"'^'  '^'^  e<>«"«"-Prevost«ns-vered 
assuiice  ?h»f  ,h/"^  g>^at  satisfaction  he  K^d  „oeived  the 
assurance,  that  the  perpetration  of  the  bumine  of  the  town  «f 

^■d7h.^'  ""^'.^'^  ""authorised  by  the  At^rila^  gove^rnt 
and  abhorrent  to  every  American  feeling;  that  if  £,y  omraees 
ark  ;"ssinVther"3  an/  "njusUfiablf 'destrictISS  o?nIw 
Su?edt^^.h^  •„«""'■'  "fj^^.'^'aliation,  they  were  to  be  at- 

the'^fttra':  ™^:;;^?Lxnve'S"'xr  ""=  •'"'1 

^  -arfare,  it  had  n^t  btn\"s  il  f  klt^et'e'rVreniU' 
iestvt'L"  ""'  "'  little  congenhU  to  the  displsWon  of  hUra.' 

Ctedlw"'T;-A'''  *r'  ".*"  of  the  government  ofXe 
hlTeZ.  ^     ?  •'  •'^'*''<='?t«')'  to  adopt  any  plan  of  policy,  which 
Bm  ,.  ^°^J"'  the  devastation  of  prime  prope?ty  » 

onfy  expfa«rT^h,°^'^'  ll'"^"?"  govetimLls  not  the 
officer  CTe  Bri'^^  ""'""'onsed  offence  committed  by  its 

ry^rp'-'^  :x:^^^^r^S^ 

of  the  llSof  Januarv  mVfi'''^'  ""^/  ^.^^^  proclamation 
the  burninVof  Newark  «  fhi  ^''P^^^^Jy  declared,  that  for 
cccurrerf  th^;  o  ?  n  '  ^^®  opportunity  of  punishment  had 
aTthatitw'  nn^^i-""-^?"^  retaliation  had  taken  place, 
Z.J  ^^  "°^  ^^^  intenuon  to  pursue  further  a  svstem  of 

S  rCfi  v'j"^'"  his  own  feeTings,  and  so  littK  c^ge 
the  ene^^  .f  "f^^  character,  unless  the  future  measures  of 
ine  enemy  should  compel  him  again  to  resort  t^  it  "     w^i. 

rtdrZcVd"  hTr^-^'"?*  ^j  wiSso^^rh'h  •  beer^. 

eaay  noticed,  he  transmitted  a  copy  of  the  proclamation,  «»s 


\n 


IlIStOHY  Ol'  THE  WAII. 


expressive  of  the  determination  as  to  his  futui'c  line  of  con 
duct,"  and  added,  »'  that  he  was  happy  to  learn,  that  there 
was  no  probability,  that   any    measures,  on  the  part   of  the 
American  government,  would  oblige  him  to  depart  from  it." 

The  places  usually  called  the  Moravian  towns,  were  mere 
collections  of  Indian  huts  and  cabins,  on  the  river  Le  Trench 
or  Thames,  not  probably  worth,  in  the  whole,  one  thousand 
dollars.  The  Indians  who  inhabited  them,  among  whom  were 
some  notoriously  hostile  to  the  United  States,  had  made  incur- 
sions the  most  cruel  into  their  territory.  When,  therefore, 
the  American  army  under  general  Harrison  invaded  Canada 
in  1813,  the  huts  and  cabins  of  the  hostile  Indians  were  des- 
troyed. But  this  species  of  warfare  has  been  invariably  pur- 
sued by  every  nation  engaged  in  war  with  the  Indians  of  the 
^  American  continent.  However  it  may  be  regretted  on  the 
score  of  humanity,  it  appears  to  be  the  necessary  means  of 
averting  the  still  greater  calamities  ot  ivage  hostility;  and  it 
is  believed,  that  the  occurence  Would  never  have  been  made 
the  subject  of  a  charge  against  the  American  troops,  if  the 
f9ct  had  not  been  misrepresented  or  misunderstood.  Many 
people  at  home,  and  most  neople  abroad,  have  been  led  to  sup- 
pose, that  the  Moravian  towns  were  the  peaceable  settlements 
of  a  religious  sect  of  Christians,  and  not  the  abode  of  a  hostile 
tribe  of  savageb, 

But  while  excuses  arift  thus  framed  with  a  view  of  palliating 
the  devastation  committed  by  the  British  army,  not  one  at- 
tejnpt  is  made  to  palliate  or  excuse  the  navy  for  its  plunder  of 
the  wealthy  town  of  Alexandria,  or  for  the  system  of  pitiful 
pilfering  which  was  carried  on  for  two  summers  in^the  Chesa- 
peake. Is  the  plunder  and  devastation  of  the  property  of  pri- 
vate individuals,  then  less  heinous  than  the  destruction  of  pub- 
lic edifices?  or  is  the  world  so  accustomed  to  the  system  of 
wholesale  privateering,  unauthorised  ty  the  laws  of  riaval  war- 
fare, as  to  pass  over  without  comment,  when  committed  by 
naval  officers,  not  only  the  sack  of  a  large  town,  but  the  desola- 
tion of  whole  districts? 

The  general  orders  of  Brown^  on  crossing  the  Niagara,  form 
a  pleasuig  contrast  to  the  devastating  threat  of  Cochrane. 
*'  Upon    entering   Canada,"    says   he,    "  the   laws    of  war* 


*  "  JVar  ie  at  best  a  savage  thing;  and  wades  through  a  sea 
qf  violence  and  injustice;  yet  even  war  itself  has  its  laws,  which 
men  qf' honour  will  not  depart  from:* — Plutarch,  life  of  Camil- 
tue 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAH.  ',99 

bc^t^V^'hec.  „ith  death,  who  t,!!^uLnXl£l:^''^^':l^ 

U^prtociple,  ™aybe  deduced  f™^''Levm°"«' ??;''; 
the  possession  of  a  capital  does  not  decide  thrfc.;  J  T*"" 
or  even  of  a  camDai»n      9H  Ti...  •    .""*  '"?  'Me  of  a  state, 

,ncn  are  of  morSi^ce  th,„  /".'fi^"""?"™  »"  "'  "«• 

genera,  should  ne^r'^crow.edg^  W,f''vl""heH"tK"»'  / 

Hiitr^.^Kei^iio;^r2S« 

lage,  of  about  8000  inhabitants  fnd  i^r  countr^  thlnT"  "'• 

t'Se"'rlrharr "-^  "  Wa=bi„7onrn?t  ti^Hi, 

?r 'o^'retattrCt  JJwt^ Z'^I^^Tl'.  ""=  P- 

^vas  commenced  und"r  favouf  of  the  „1^h.  »■■!!  '^''^"  *J*"^^' 
.etreat  would  have  been  IZl  yl,:  I?  Cs  t^X^'e"  i'" 

s^^ir'thTrrt-i'-Su^R— :■- 

Prul^dtve^r--     rrS^S-^^^ 
t.-om  a  circumstance  that  could  not  hiveTeen'  fotl  ee„  ^„'h 

differlm'eKT  '"'  ^^^='""6'°''  P™d"ced  in  Europe  a  verv 
uincrent  etfcct  trom  what  was  pvnp/>f/»ri      t-u     ^  *^i  .     .    • 


190 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


from  the  ministry  a  statement,  that  instructions  had  been  sent 
to  the  coast  of  America  to  desist  from  further  inflictions  of 
vengeance. 

The  threats  of  devastation,  and  their  piratical  operations  in 
the  district  of  Columbia,  produced  an  electric  eifect  through- 
out the  union.  A  spirit  of  patriotism  was  kindled  by  the 
flames  of  the  capitol,  before  which  all  party  considerations 
and  honest  diff'erences  of  opinion  vanished.  The  war,  at  its 
commencement,  was  considered  an  inexpedient  measure,  by  a 
large  and  respectable  portion  of  the  community.  The  mode 
of  conducting  it  also,  by  the  invasion  of  Canada,  was  con- 
demned as  inefficacious;  as  resembling  more  a  war  for  foreign 
conquest,  than  a  resolute  assertion  of  our  naval  rights,  which 
ought,  it  was  said,  to  be  conquered  on  the  ocean.  All  aid, 
either  in  men  or  money,  was  consequently  as  much  as  possi- 
ble withheld  by  those  who  embra'ced  these  sentiments.  Party 
considerations  had  no  doubt  their  effect  in  producing  this  re- 
sult. It  was  not  to  be  expected,  that  the  opposition  would 
fail  to  ma^e  use  of  the  same  popular  topics  which  had  been 
so  successfully  wielded  against  them  when  in  powej-,  and 
which  had  finally  driven  them  from  their  seats. 

But  at  this  interesting  crisis  a  new  spirit  pervaded  the  nation, 
which  aroused  it  almost  instantaneously  to  arms.  Party  ran- 
cour, for  a  moment,  seemed  utterly  extinct ;  "  this  is  not  the 
time  for  speaking,  but  for  acting,"  became  the  universal  cry. 
All  classes  seemed  inspired  with  military" ardour;  the  young 
and  the  old,  the  rich  and  the  poor,  rushed  into  the  ranks,  came 
forward  with  their  contributions,  and  assisted  in  the  labour  of 
raising  works  of  defence.  Nor  were  even  the  females  idle  at 
this  trying  moment.  Their  labours  were  united  in  accoutring 
the  volunteers,  and  in  providing  for  their  necessities. 

These  movements  were  little  if  at  all  regulated  by  the  go- 
vernments either  of  the  states  or  of  the  iinion.  It  appeared 
as  if  the  people,  perceiving  that  the  powers  with  which  they 
had  entrusted  their  rulers  were  either  incompetent  to  the  crisis, 
or  had  not  been  sufliciently  acted  on,  had  determined  sponta- 
neously to  arise  in  their  might,  and  take  the  defence'of  their 
respective  neighbourhoods  upon  themselves.  .  Committees  of 
vigilance  or  defence  were  every  where  appointed  by  the  peo- 
ple in  the  town  meetings,  who  collected  money,  arms,  and 
ammunition,  regulated  the  mi^tary  movements  of  the  citizens, 
and  superhitended  their  voluntary  labour  at  the  fortifications. 
Nor  was  the  public  enthusiasm  unavailing.  From  this  mo- 
ment, almost  every  encounter  with  the  enemv  shed  nev/  lus- 
tre on  the  American  arms,  till  the  war  finally  closed  in  ablaze 
of  glory  at  New-Orleans. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


191 


cd  in  ablaze 


be  exeZnfi  ,  ^  which  prevailed  at  this  period  cannot  perhaps 
VP^  ^'^J-  '^  !"°''^  strikingly  than  by  the  proclamations  of  go- 
H.?r/  ^^"^e^den.-Shortly  after  his  election  to  the  chief  ma- 
gistracy of  Vermont,  in  the  fall  of  1813,  Chittenden  issued  a 
proclamat^cn,  ordering  a  brigade  of  Vermont  militia,  then  at 
1  lattsburg,  m  the  service  of  the  United  states,  to  return  to 
their  homes,  on  the  pretence  that  it  was  highly  improper  that 
he  mihtia  should  be  placed  under  the  command  of  and  at  the 
disposal  of  an  officer  of  the  United  States,  and  out  of  the  juris- 

to  .h^"rr''''"^T^  ""-'^^  executive  of  Vermont,  and  marched 
to  the  defence  (rf  a  sister  state,  fully  competent  to  all  the  pur- 
poses  of  self-defence.     The  militia   refused  complianfce  Avith 
this  requisition,  and  the  officers  publicly  addressed  the  govern- 
or, stating  at  large  their  reasons  for  this  refusal.     «  We  are 
not  of  that  class,"  say  they,  «  who  believe  that  our  duties  as  ci- 
tizens or  soldiers  are  circumscribed  within  the  narrow  limits 
ot  the  town  or  state  in  which  we  reside  ;  but  that  we  are  under 
a  paramount  obligation  to  our  common  country,  to  the  ereat 
confederacy  of  states."  «  We  conceive  it  our  duty,"  they  con- 
cl^^Jf '    ?^  ^    ^^'"''^   unequivocally  to  your  excellency,  that  we 
shall  no1>  obey  your  excellency's  order  for  returning ;  but  shall 
continue  m  the  service  of  our  country,  until  we  are  legally  and 
honourably  discharged.     An  invitation  or  order  to  desert  the 
standard  of  our  country  will  never  be  obeyed  by  us,  although  it 
proceeds  from  the  governor  and  captain-general  of  Vermont  " 
Adding,  «  We  cannot  perceive  what  other  object  your  excel 
lency  could  have  in  view  than  to  embarrass  the  operations  of 
the  arnriy,  to  excite  mutiny  and  sedition  among  the  soldiers 
and  to  induce  them  to  desert,  that  they  might  forfeit  the  waj/es 
to  which  they  are  entitled  for  their  patriotic  services  "  "- 

At  this  important  crisis  a  very  dififerent  stand  was  taken  bv' 
\f.!T^^^''r'''''''\  ^"  ^'^  P^'oclamation,  dated  Septemb-cr  19, 
1814,  he  declares,  that  the  war  has  assumed  an  entirely  differ- 
ent  character,  since  its  first  commencement,  and  has  become 
almost  exclusively  defensive,  and  is  prosecuted  by  the  enemv 
with  a  spirit,    unexampled  dtiring  pending  negociations  for 
peace,  which  leaves  no  prospect  of  safety  but  in  a  manly  and 
nited  determination  to  meet  invasion  at  every  point,  and  expel 
the  invader.     That,  as  the  conflict  has  become  a  common  and 
not  a  party  concern,  the  time  has  now  arrived  when  all  degrad- 
ing party  distmctions  and  animosities,  however  we  mav  have 
uiftered  respecting  the  policy  of  declaring,  or  the  mode  of  pro- 

secutimr  the  vi^ar  omrhi  tr»  Uc  iniri  «c;,io.  *u^4.  r       .  ^ 

Ko  ,*•    ''i  .   J         ,-»--- -.-.•.•..'.-!•_,  v^iiai.  every  iicart  may 

be  stimulated,  and  every  arm  nerved,  for  the  protection  of  our 
r«mmon  country,  our  liberty,  our  altars,  and  our  fireside;  in 


c 


,1^2 


HISTORY   OP  THE  WAR. 


M 

I' 

^Ql 

I 

the  (Jefence  of  which  we  may,  with  an  humble  confidence,  look 
to  heaven  for  assistant  e  and  protection.  He  therefore  earnest- 
^     l)t  exhorts  all  the  good  people  of  Vermont,  by  that  love  of 
■^j.^ouiitryj,  which  so  signally  distinguished  their  fathers,  in  their 
'    glonoua  and  successful  struggle  for  independence,  to  unite 
both  lie  art  and  hand,  in  defence  of  their  common  interest,  and 
every  thing  dear  to  freemen. 

The  British  army  having  re-embarked  on  board  the  fleet  in 
Jhe  Patuxent,  admiral  Cochrane  moved  down  that  river,  and 
proceeded  up  the  Chesapeake,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  lOth 
^f  September  appeared  at  the  mouth  of  the  Patapsco,  about 
H  miles  from  the  city  of  Baltimore.  Anticipating  the  debark- 
atioB  of  the  troops,  general  Smith,  who  commanded  at  Balli- 
HKire,  had  orcfbred  general  Strieker  to  march,  with  a  portion  of 
his  mihtia,  toAvards  North  Point,  near  the  mouth  of  the  rivet-, 
where  it  was  expected  the  British  would  make  a  landing.  His  " 
force  consisted  of  550  of  the  5th  regiment,  under  lieutenant- 
colonel  Sterrett;  620  of  the  6th,  under  lietenant-colonel  Don- 
aid;'  500  of  the  27th  under  lieutenant-colonel  Long;  450  of  the 
39th,  under  lieutenant-colonel  Fowler;  700  of  the  51st,  under 
lieutenant-colonel  Amey;  150  riflemen,  under  captain  Dyer- 
140  cavalry,  under  lieutenant-colonel  Biays;  and  the  Union  Ar- 
tillery of  75  men,  with  six  four-pounders,  under  captain  Mont- 
gomery; making  an  aggregate  of  3,185  effective  men.  Major 
Randal,  with  a  light  corps  of  riflemen  and  musquetry,  taken 
from  general  Stansbury's  brigade  and  the  Pennsylvania  volun- 
teers, was  detached  to  the  mouth  of  Bear  Creek,  with  orders 
to  co-operate  with  general  Strieker,  and  to  check  any  landing 
which  the  enemy  might  attempt  in  that  quarter. 

The  trqopar  mo^ed  towards  North  Point,  by  the  main  road, 
on  the  1  Ithj  and  at  3  o'clock,  P.  M.  reached  the  meeting-house, 
near  the  head  of  Bear  Creek,  seven  miles  from  tlie  city.  Here 
the  brigade  halted,  with  the  exception  of  the  cavalry,  who  were 
pushed  forward  to  Gorsuch's  farm  three  miles  in  advance,  and 
the  riflemen,  who  took  post  near  the  blacksmith's  shop,  two 
mJes  in  advance  of  the  encampment.  At  7  -o'clock,  on  the 
morning  of  the  12th,  information  was  received  from  the  advan- 
ced videtts,  that  the  enemy  were  debarking  troops  from  and  un- 
der cover  of  their  gun-vessels,  which  lay  off  the  bluff  of  Not-th 
Point,  within  the  mouth  of  Patapsco  river.  "  The  bai^gage  was 
immediately  ordered  back  under  a  strong  guard,  arid  general 
Strieker  took  a  good  position  at  the  junction  of  the  two  roads 
leading  from  Baltimore  to  North  Point,  having  his  right  flank- 
ed by  Bear  Creek,  and  his  left  bv  a  magh.  Ha  her^  v/ait--^-  *^^- 
approach  of  the  enemy,  having  sent  on  an  ady^rced  corps^  un^ 


ifideiice,  look 
fore  earnest- 
that  love  of 
hers,  in  their 
lice,  to  unite 
inlerest,  and 

I  the  fleet  in 
at  river,  and 
5  of  the  loth 
Lapsco,  about 
;  the  debark - 
ided  at  Balli- 
1  a  portion  of 
of  the  rivet*, 
landing.  His  " 
I*  Ueutenant- 
eolonel  Don- 
;;  450  of  the 
i  51st,  under 
aptain  Dyer; 
le  Union  Ar- 
aptain  Mont- 
nen.  Major 
[uetry,  taken 
Ivania  volun- 
with  orders 
any  landing 

e  main  road, 
cting-house, 
e  city.  Here 
ry,  who  were 
idvance,  and 
s  shop,  two 
ock,  on  the 
n  the  advan- 
from  and  un- 
uff  of  North 
•aggage  was 
and  general 
le  two  roads 
)  right  flank- 

d  corps,  un- 


II 


t\ 


C( 

w 

th 


m 
th 
ne 

St; 
gg 

CO 

po 

wl 

Al 

m< 

sta 

mj 

,  th( 

on 

bri 

ma 

tee 

till 

cap 

siti 


me 
froi 
can 
as  i 
con 
and 
oft 
exe 
an  i 
the 
thr( 


HISTORY  OF  TSE  WAR. 


19; 


der  the  command  of  major  Heath,  of  the  5th   regiment,     this 
aavance  was  met  by  that  of  the  enemy,  and  after  some  skirmish- 
mg  It  returned  to  the  line,  the  main  body  of  the  enemy  beinjr  at 
a  short  distance  in  the  rear  of  their  advance.     During  this 
skirmishing,    major-general    Ross    received   a  musket-ball 
through  his  arm  into  his  breast,  which  proved  fatal  to  him  on 
Ills  way  to  the  water  side  for  re -embarkation.     The  command 
ot  the  enemy's  forces  then  devolved  on  colonel  Brook.     Be- 
tween 2  and  3  o'clock,  the  enemy's  whole  force  came  up  and 
commenced  the  battle  by  some  discharges  of  rockets,  .which 
were  succeeded  by  the  cannon  from  both  sides,  and  soon  after, 
the  action  became  general  along  the  line.     General  Sirickei- 
gallantly  maintained  his  ground  against  a  great  superiority  of 
mimbers  during  the  space  of  an  hour  and  twenty  minutes,  when 
the  regiment  on  his  left  (the  5 1  st)  giving  way  he  was  under  the 
necessity  of  retiring  to  the  ground  in  his  rear,  where  he  had 
stationed  one  regiment  as  a  reserve.     He  here  formed  his  bri- 
gUe;  but  the  enemy  not  thinking  it  advisable  to  pursue,  he,  in 
compliance  with  previous  arrangements,  fell  back  and  took 
post  on  the  left,  a  half  mile  in  advance  of  the  entrenchments, 
which  had  Ijeen  thrown  up  on  the  hillb  surrounding  Baltimore 
About  the  time  general  Scricker  had  takea  the  ground  just 
mentioned,  he  was  joined  by  general  Winder,  who.had  been 
stationed  on  the  west  side  of  the  city,  but  was  now  ordered  to, 
Jhf  Unirn^f  r'^'j  ^°"g»^«'«b"gade  of  Virginia  militia,  and 
"'  i.  fhl     f?  ^      '  dragoons,  under  captain  Bird,,  and  take  post 
on  the  left  of  general  Strieker.  During  these  movements,  the 
brigades  of  generals  Stansbuiy  and  Foreman,  the  seamen  and 
marmes,  under  conrimodore  Rodgers,  the  Pennsylvania  volun- 
teers, under  colonels  Cobean  and  Findley,  t)ie  Baltimore  ar- 
tiUery,  under  colonel  Harris,  and  the  marine  artillery,  under 
captain  Stiles,  manned  the  trenches,  and  batteries,  and  in  this 
situation  spent  the  night,  all  prepared  to  receive  the  enemy. 

r^^f     ?T'^^'  ^^^  ^''}'^^'  appeared  in  front  of  the  entrench- 
ments,  at  the  distance  of  two  miles,  on  the  Philadelphia  road 
from  whence  he  had  a  full  view  of  tlie  position  of  the  Amert' 

llTi  .J^h  .f^^^""''^^  "^T"^  ^^  '"^'^'^^^^  towards  his  right, 
In^Z^  in  entioa  of  making  a  circuitous  march,  and 
coming  down  on  the  Harford  or  York  roads.  Generals  Winder 
and  Stri.  V  ..  were  ordered  to  adapt  their  movements  to  those 
ot  the  enemy,  so  as  to  baffle  this  supposed  intention.     They 

an  aTvn'nt  ""'^^^  V^^  g^eat  skill  and  judgment,  by  taking 
an  advantageous  position,  strecchine-  arrns«  the  ^r.,.LL  „.uJi 

Iw.T^rt-  ^^"^^^  ^° 'PP'^^"''  t^he  quarter  he  seemed^ to 
tni  eaten.     I  his  movement  induced  the  British  to  concentrate- 


a  2 


194 


HISTOnV  OP  THE  WAR. 


their  forces  ip  front,  pushing  his  advance  to  within  a  mile  of 
the  entrenchments;  driving  in  the  videttes,  and  shewing  an 
intention  of  attacking  the  position  that  evening.  Smith,  there- 
fore, immediately  drew  generals  Winder  and  Strieker  nearer 
to  the  right  of  the  enemy,  with  the  intention  of  falling  on  his 
right  or  rear  should  he  attack  the  entrenchments,  or,  if  he  de- 
clined it,  of  attacking  him  in  the  morning. 

As  soon  as  the  British  troops  had  debarked  at  North  Point, 
the  fleet  proceeded  up  the  Petapsco,  to  bombard  Fort  M'Henry, 
which  commands  the  entrance  to  the  harbour  of  Baltimore. 
On  the  13th,  about  sunrise,  the  British  commenced  the  attack 
from  their  bomb-vessels,  at  the  distance  of  about  two  miles, 
when,  finding  that  the  shells  reached  the  fort,  they  anchored, 
and  kept  up  an  incessant  and  well-directed  bombardment. 

Fort  M'Henry  was  commanded  by  lieutenant-colonel  Ar- 
mistead.  The  garrison  consisted  of  one  company  of  United 
States'  artillery,  under  captain  Evans,  and  two  companies  of 
sea-fencibles,  under  captains  Bunbury  and  Addison.  Of  these 
three  co;npan=es,  35  men  were  unfortunately  on  the  sick  list, 
and  unfit  for  duty.  In  contemplation  of  the  attack,  Armistead 
had  been  furnished  with  two  companies  of  volunteer  artillery 
Irom  the  city  ©f  Baltimore,  under  captain  Berry  and  lieuten- 
ant-commandant Penningfon,  a  company  of  volunteer  artille- 
i*ists,  under  judge  Nicholson,  who  had  proffered  their  services, 
a  detachment  from  commodore  Barney's  flotilla,  under  lieu- 
tenant R-edman,  and  about  six  hundred  infantry,  under  the 
command  of  lieutenant-colonel  Stewart  and  major  Lane,  con- 
sisting of  detachments  from  the  12th,  Uth,  36th,  and  38th 
regknents  of  United  States  troops — the  total  amounting  to 
about  a  thousand  eff'ectivc  men.  Two  batteries  to  the  right 
of  Fort  M'Henry,  upon  the  Patapsco,  were  manned,  the  one 
by  lieutenant  Newcombe,  with  a  detachment  of  sai'ol's, 
other  by  lieutenant  Webster,  of  the  flotilla.  The  former 
tailed  Fort  Covington,  the  latter  the  City  Battery. 

As  soon  as  the  British  commenced  the  bombardment, 
batteries  at  the  fort  were  opened  in  return;  but  the  firing  soon 
ceased  on  the  part  of  the  Americans,  as  it  was  found  that  all 
the  shot  and  shells  fell  considerably  short  of  the  British  ves- 
sels. This  was  a  most  distressing  circumstance  to  the  troops 
in  the  fort,  as  it  compelled  them  to  remain  inactive,  though 
exposed  to  a  constant  and  tremendous  shower  of  shells.  But 
though  thus  inactive,  and  without  that  security,  which,  in  more 
regular  fortifications,  is  provided  for  such  occasions,  not  a 


the 
was 

the 


•man     c1-1»'IT|-*V     4^»»n*v»      V»io     T\r\e*4- 


About  2  o'clock,  P   M.  one  of  the  twenty-four-pounders  on 
tlic  south-wesl  bastion,  under  th<?  immediate  command  of  cap- 


n  a  mile  of 
shewing  an 
mith,  there- 
cker  nearer 
lling  on  his 
or,  if  he  de- 

Jorth  Point, 
:t  M'Henry, 

Baltimore. 
d  the  attack 
t  two  miles, 
y  anchored, 
dment. 
colonel  Ar- 
r  of  United 
)mpanies  of 
i.  Of  these 
tie  sick  list, 
,  Armistead 
?er  artillery 
.nd  lieuten- 
teer  artille- 
;ir  services, 
under  lieu- 
,  under  the 

Lane,  con- 
1,  and  38th 
lounting  to 
0  the  right 
;d,  the  one 
sailol's,  the 
former  was 

dment,  the 
firing  soon 
und  that  all 
British  ves- 
)  the  troops 
ive,  though 
hells.  But 
ch,  in  more 
iions,  not  a 

)ounders  on 
land  of  cap- 


HISTORY    OF  THE  WAR.  jg^ 

men;  the  bustle  necessarHv  n^„H  '  ^  •  '™""''ed  several  of  his 
ed  and  remounti"rthe  ^u^n'^.rl,?,'' '"  f  "'".""S  '"«  '^"■■""l- 
suspect  that  the  Barrisolwarin  .If'"''""''  "'1  ''""'I'  '» 
ships  were  immediately  advanced      ButT'  f  "'T  '">""'■ 

s%ht^„'!s'sirrfrrttt7ii?e  hof  "•  ^^-r'^  "■•  '- 

of  the  13th  till  7  o'clock  AM  ™r''?'''  '"'^-  ''""^  sunrise 
During  the  night,  whUsE  teh„l"'H  ""*  "^  September, 
severe,  two  or  three  rocket  vesser»nHK'"'  ""'  "^^  "">»' 
pass  ng  Fort  M'Henrv  »mi  „I1-  ,  '^^""f^^'s  succeeded  in 

were  slon  compelleZ'to  reS  "  bv^h'' '?'  ^'"^^'"'^  """^  «'«" 
These  forts  also'destroyed  one  of  .h^  K  "■  ."'^'  l"^'""- 

It  is  supposed  that  thT4ssefsl '   n     S^^' r"?  ="'  ™  ^oard. 
picked  men,  with  scalinJ^^nl,     r  P?""*  "'''  f""'  ""tained 
In  the  coirse  of  the  fi!lt   ,h'  °' I'n  '^^"^"'  °f  forming, 
munication  with  the  commit,        fV^';'''"'''""  '"='<'  »  com- 
enterprise  being  tn:?d^eS1::pl:f,:i?:^5•'■•'=-'  »"  the 
agreed  to  withdraw.     Accordin!?p„     ^^i     ' ,      ^"^  mutually 
still  cominued,  in  orderlo  d°st  a?  '^.I.e  '.'  '  ,'•'"  ^°"?'«"■''ment 
cans,  the  retreat  was  commencpH      o   ™   ™  °^  ""^  '^"'«"- 
'larknessj  and  a  continued  raT,ri,w».?",?  '"  "''=  ""■'^™« 
light,  when  general  Winder  ro™r.  "°^  discovered  till  day- 
Virginia  brigade  and  tlu^teSes-'dlt ''"'''"'''  T'''  "'•= 
lime  major  Randal  was  disDatch^d  f  ^l  "^'^Spons;  at  the  sajne 
suit  of  the   enemy'Iri^h,    w  -1  /.K-  '"l''S'>'  eorps  in  pur- 
cavalry  was  put^  motiin  forThi       '^  j''°''=  "^  "'«  ">i«tia 
were,  iowever,  so  worrou!^  v  fh  rZ'  "^'r'    A"  '^^  "-""Ps 
Ming  under  arms  during  three  d^r"f''-T'^'""S.  and  wi  h 
Sreater  part  of  the  time  fovorvinT  *'"' '"'Shts,  exposed  the 

found  impracticable™  do  anJdUntmor'e  Th"""^-'^""  "  ^'^ 
Stragglers.  ^   ^"^  "^^^^  than  pick  up  a  few 

boLtdment  tXre've"  ov"  ck '"-Ib^T"^"'  ^k""""-"  ""= 
North  Point,  where  the  enW  »ri;,-  ?',  "'"^  ""^^  ''"i'-ed  to 
that  evening   an"tar comnlei^ '''"  ''^"'*  '™°P*  commenced 

would  have'^een^r^o  rrbTefcven  h  d  r  A  "^  °''^"'*-  I' 
heen  ma  condition  to  act  off»„.:  i  .  ^  Amencan  troops 
of. the  enemy's  r^ar  /uar^fdrr^iu'?  "!"?  ^.n' off  any  pa^rt 
point  where  it  was  affected  was' defrnX^T"'"'''"'""'  *'  '*'« 
'-  of  defence,  extending  from' Sl-i^rto^^^S^U^s^ 


196 


HISTORY    OF  THE  WAR. 


creek,  on  the  Patapsco,  which  had  been  thrown  up  previous  ta 
the  arrival  of  the  British. 

The  loss  of  the  Americans,  at  the  battle  near  North  Point, 
was  24  killed,  139  wounded,  and  50  prisoners.  The  loss  of 
the  British  in  this  action  Avas  39  killed,  and  251  wounded. 
The  loss  in  the  fort  was  only  4  killed  and  24  wounded;  no  list 
of  killed  and  wounded  on  board  the  squadron  has  been  pub- 
lished. From  the  best  calculations  that  could  be  made,  from 
fifteen  to  eighteen  hundred  shells  were  thrown  by  the  enemy. 
A  few  of  these  fell  short.  A  large  proportion  burst  over  the 
fort,  throwing  their  fragments  around,  and  threatening  des- 
truction. Many  passed  over,  and  about  four  hundred  fell 
within  the  works.  Two  of  the  public  buildings  were  mate- 
rially injured,  the  others  butslightly. 

The  effect  produced  by  the  joyful  intelligence  of  the  failure 
of  the  attempt  upon  Baltimore,  may  be  more  easily  conceived 
than  expressed,  when  it  is  considered  that  almost  every  large 
town  being  equally  threatened  with  devastation,  the  case  of 
Baltimordcame  home  to  every  individual  bosom.  But  one  mo- 
ment before,  the  public  dismay  seemed  to  have  reached  its 
acme;  and  the  most  gloomy  anticipations  seemed  about  to  be 
realized. 

While  admiral  Cochrane  was  threatening  the  coimtry  along 
the  Chesapetike,  by  order  of  sir  Geoige  Pevost,  the  latter  was 
leading  an  army  and  navy  into  the  United  States,  but  holding 
very  different  language.     Though  he  could  direct  the  British 
for-es  in  the  south  to  lay  wast  and  desolate,  he  was  too  fearful 
of  the  re-action  of  such  barbarous  orders  to  dare  to  utter  them 
at  the  head  of  his  own  troops.     Here  his  language  was  of  the 
softest  and  most  conciliatory  nature.     On  entering  the  state 
of  New- York,  he  «  makes  known  to  its  peaceable  and  unofiend- 
ing  inhabitants,  that  they  have  no  cause  for  alarm  from  this 
invasion  of  their  country,  for  the    safety  of  themselves  and 
families,  or  for  the  security  of  their  property.     He  explicitly 
assures  them,  that  as  long  as  they  continue  to  demean  them- 
selves peaceably,  they  shall  be  protected  in  the  quiet  posses- 
sion of  their  homes,  and  permitted  freely  to  pursue  their  usual 
occupations.      It  is  against  the  government  of    the  United 
States,  by  whom  this  unjust  and  unprovoked  war  has  been 
declared, '  and  against  those   who    support  it,  eithe|-  openly 
or  secretly,  that  the  arms  of  his  majesty  are  directed.     The 
quiet  and  unoffending  inhabitants,  not  found  in  arms,  or  other- 
wise not  aiding  in  hostilities,  shall  meet  with  kind  usage  and 
generous  treatment;  and  all  just  complaints  against  any  of  his 
.  majesty's  subjects,  offering  violence  to  them,  to  their  families, 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


i9r 


previous  to- 

forth  Point, 
rhe  loss,  ot" 
I  wounded, 
ided;  no  list 

been  pub- 
made,  from 

the  enemy. 
rst  over  the 
tenin^  dcs- 
undred  fell 
were  mate- 

f  the  failure 
y  conceived 
every  large 
the  case  of 
But  one  mo- 
reached  its 
about  to  be 

3\mtry  along 
le  latter  was 

but  holding 
t  the  British 
IS  too  fearful 
o  utter  them 
3  was  of  the 
Eig  the  state 
ind  imoflend- 
•m  from  this 
mselves  and 
tc  explicitly 
;mean  them- 
luiet  posses- 
,e  their  usual 

the  United 
^ar  has  been 
sithei"  openly 
:ected.  The 
ms,  or  other- 
id  usage  and 
nst  any  of  his 
heir  families) 


or  to  their 


th.  «  f    i'^^^^^^^°"»' s^all  be  immediately  reUicssed."  With 

Pl«?f«K.   '  "^u""^''  .'^''  ^^°''S^  P^^^ost  led  his  army  against 

D^^fceede'rl  n    h"' w^  ^^^r^"?  ^^  September,  while  the  fleet 

Soraneon^  Z    I'  ^'^'u^  l^^  ^^'^"'  ^^  «^^^^  ^^  "^^^e  a  contem- 
poraneous attack  on  the  Americans  by  land  and  water. 

rrevious  to  this  invasion,  no  military  movements  took  place 

Arr:.l^  quarter,  excepting  an  attack  which  was  made  on  an 

feu^        ^'"'"^  "r^^  ^°"^^«  °»  the  lake.    In  this  affair  the 
British  were  repulsed  with  loss. 

But  durmg  the  months  of  July  and  August,  the  army  from 
LeneTw '.V^'^^'*^  ^^^-  ^°  ^^^^^^5^  distinguished  itself  unTr 
tlie  trniny?^-"^'^"'  ^'"""^  ^"  '^^  St.  Lawrence;  and  part  pf 
.Hn  ?  K  ^'"^  '^"^  "P  *°  t^^  Niagara,  the  remainder,  con- 
sist ng  of  about  14,000  men,  were  orglniz^d  by  sir  Georg;  Pre- 
vost,  agreeably  to  the  orders  of  the  prince  regent,  for  the  nur- 
pose  of  undertaking  an  expedition  into  the  state  of  N^.w-Y?rk. 
been  turi^f  T^'""  to  suppose,  that  if  this  expedition  had 
annfh!^  ."''  ^  powerful  attempt  would  have  followed  from 
the  Une  K'h' H  '^'  '^'^  °^  New-York,  in  order,  by  seizSig 
states  """*  completely  to  cut  off  the  New  EnglanH 

Lower  r^.nla^  *Tf '  T'^  concentrated  on  the  frontiers  of 
Wp^k!  ^L^l^  ^°°^  possession  of  Champlainon  the  3d  of 
ter&      •  ^^f  u^'^  P/"'  °^  ^^^  American  troops  in  this  quar- 

d  tolP;/sTt-^''"^^""!?  ^'^  "^^^^^^«"'  ^^'^  had  march, 
ed  towards  the  Niagara,  under  geheral  Izard.     General  Ma- 

tomb,  as  senior  officer,  had  been  left  in  command.  But  except- 

and  recru^t?;f  tT  ^^'"'°^  '^^'  composed  of  convalescents 
ti^  men  for  Hn/  n^-"^  regiments,  not  exceeding  1500  effec- 
ordn^.^      /?^'  ^^^  '"1  ^^^  S^^^t^^t  confusion,  as  well  as  the 

F^nL  ^"/  ''°'l''  ^"^  'h"  ^^^'^^  i"  "«  state  of  defence, 
pre^^smen^t  oTtTe  w'  P^"^^^"^f  «"s  ^^  the  enemy,  and  his  im'. 
n4rTn  Pliuh^,    ^^^°"'/'''^  '"?"''  ^"  *^^^  ^i^i"ity,  that  an  at- 
made^on^IfiJi    ^  was  determined  on,  every  exertion  was 
made  to  place  the  works  m  a  state  of  defence;  aiid,  to  create  an 

vide^lrr.^  T'  '"^°"^  ^^^  «ffi-^^  -"d  m'en,?h  y  were  d" 
comb  i";°^^^^^^ments,  and  placed  near  the  several  forts;  Ma- 
omb  decanng  m  orders,  that  each  detachment  was  the  garri- 
son of  its  own  work,  and  bound  to  defend  it  to  the  last  cxtremi  y. 

MatXca^^oiTrfJ^--^^^ 

m^se.    The  1      bitants  of  Plattsbiwg  fled  with  their  famiUes 


198 


HISTORY    OF  THS  WAR. 


and  effects,  except  a  few  men  and  some  boys,  who  formed 
tiiemselves  into  a  party,  received  rifles,  and  were  exceedingly 
useful. 

By  the  4th  of  the  month  general  Mooers  collected  about  se- 
ven hundred  militia,  and  advanced  seven  miles  on  the  Beck- 
man  Town  road,  to  watch  the  motions  of  the  enemy,  and  to 
skirmish  with  him  as  he  advanced;  also  to  obstruct  the  roads 
with  fallen  trees,  and  to  break  up  the  bridges.  On  the  lake 
road,  at  Dead  Creek  bridge;  two  hundred  men  had  been  posted 
under  captain  Sproul  of  the  13th  regiment,  with  orders  to  ab- 
batis  the  woods,  to  place  obstructions  in  the  road,  and  to  forti- 
fy himself;  to  this  party  were  added  two  field-pieces.  In  ad- 
vance of  this  position,  was  lieutenant-colonel  Appling,  with  1 10 
riflemen,  watching  the  movements  of  the  enemy;  and  procuring 
intelligence. 

It  was  ascertained,  that  before  day -light  on  the  6th,  the  ene- 
my would  advance  in  two  columns,  on  the  two  roads  before 
mentioned,  dividing  at  Sampson's,  a  little  below  Chazy  village. 
The  coliimn  on  the  Bcckman  Town  road  proceeded  with  great 
rapidity;  the  militia  skirmished  with  his  advanced  parties,  and, 
except  a  few  brave  men,  fell  back  precipitately,  in  the  greatest 
disorder,  although  the  British  troops  did  not  deign  to  fire  on 
them,  except  by  their  flankers  and  advanced  patroles.  The 
night  previous  major  Wool  had  been  ordered  to  advance  with 
a  detachment  of  250  men  to  support  the  militia,  and  set  them 
an  example  of  firmness.  Captain  Leonard,  of  the  light  artille- 
ry, was  also  directed  to  proceed  with  two  pieces  to  be  on  the 
ground  before  day;  but  he  did  not  make  his  appearance  until 
8  o'clock,  when  the  enemy  had  approached  within  two  miles  of 
the  village.  Major  Wool,  with  his  party,  disputed  the  road 
with  great  obstinacy,  but  the  militia  could  not  be  prevailed  on 
to  stand,  notwithstanding  the  exertions  of  their  general  and 
staff  officers;  although  the  fields  were  divided  by  strong  stone 
walls,  and  they  were  told  that  the  enemy  could  not  possibly 
cut  them  off*.  The  state  dragoons  of  New-York  wear  red  coats, 
and  they  being  on  the  heights  to  watch  the  enemy,  gave  con- 
stant alarm  to  the  militia,  who  mistook  them  for  the  enemy,  and 
feared  his  getting  in  their  rear. 

Finding  the  enemy's  columns  had  penetrated  within  a  miie 
of  Plattsburg,  general  Mac'omb  dispatched  his  aid-de-camp  to 
bring  off*  tlie  detachment  at  Dead  Creek,  and  to  order  lieuten- 
ant-colonel Appling  to  fall  on  the  enemy's  right  flank.  The 
colonel  fortunately  arrived  just  in  time  to  save  his  retreat,  and 
to  fall  in  with  the  head  of  a,  column  debouching  from  the  woods. 
Here  he  poured  in  a  destructive  fire  from  his  riflemen,  and 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


199 


who  formed 
exceedingly 

ted  about  sc- 
»n  the  Beck- 
cmy,  and  to 
ict  the  roads 
On  the  lake 
i  been  posted 
>rders  to  ab- 
and  to  forti- 
ces.  In  ad- 
ing,  with  1 10 
nd  procuring 

6th,  the  ene- 
roads  before 
hazy  village. 
id  with  great 

>  parties,  and, 
the  greatest 
jn  to  fire  on 
iroles.  The 
idvance  with 
nd  set  them 
light  artille- 
to  be  on  the 
arance  until 
two  miles  of 
ed  the  road 
prevailed  on 
general  and 
strong  stone 
not  possibly 
;ar  red  coats, 
if  gave  con- 
e  enemy,  and 

vithin  a  mi^e 

1-de-canip  to 

rder  lieuten- 

flank.     The 

>  retreat,  and 
m  the  woods, 
iflemen,  and 


major  vvool.  1  he  field-pieces  did  considerable  execution 
among  the  enemy's  colunms  So  undaunte  i  however,  was  the 
niemy,that  he  never  deployed  in  his  whole  march  alwlvs 
Xn^  on  in  column.  This'  column,  however,  was  ^uchTt^ 
1  eded  by  obstructions  thrown  in  the  way,  and  by  the  removal 
of  the  bridge  at  Dead  creek j  as  it  passed  the  creVk  and  b^ach 
the  galleys  kept  up  on  it  a  lively  and  galling  fire.  ^' 

of  The  smalf  liver  t?'"'^  ''  "^"f  ^'  ^"  ^'^  "-'^— «t  side 
n Lin  T^.  A  •  ^^'^^^^^^  "ear  where  it  falls  into  lake  Cham- 
Snhe  Hver    ^'"''"  ^""^^^  ^''^  '^^^'-<^  «n  the  opposite  side 

.f?rlv  /u?'u  ^^  field-pieces  were  therefore  ordered  to 

t  tre  across  the  bridge,  and  form  a  battery  for  its  protection 

loL  a^the  :  T'Vi  ^^V"f-^ry'  whLh  was  aS  n^^^^^^^ 
t^one,  and  the  parties  of  Apphng  and  Wool,  as  well  as  that  of 
bproul  retired  alternately,  keeptig  up  a  bri'sk  fire  unti    they 
got  undercover  of  the  works.     The  enemy's  light  troops  then 
took  possession  of  the  houses  near  the  bridge,  lid  kept  u^" 
constant  firing  from  the  windows  and  balcoJe  ,  but  a  few  hot 
shot  from  the  American  works,  which  put  the  houses  in  flLes 
soon  obliged  these  sharp-shooters  to  retire.     The  wholeTv' 
until  1  was  too  late  to  see,  the  enemy's  light  troups  endeavour-' 
ed  to  drive  the  guards  from  the  bridge,  but  they  paid  deaH; 
for  their  perseverance.  An  attempt  v/as  also  made  to  cross  the 
,  upper  bridge,  where  the  mili^a  resolutely  drove  them  back 
1  he  troops  being  now  all  on  the  south  side  of  the  Saranac,the 
p  anks  were  takeSi  off  the  bridges,  and  piled  up  in  the  form  of 
breastworks  to  cover  the  parties  intended  to  dispute  the  pas 
sage,  which  afterwards  enabled  them  to  hold  the  bridges"  Jnst 
very  superior  numbers.  ^"Ses  against 

From  the  7th  to  the  11th,  the  enemy  was  employed  in  get- 
g  on  his  battering  train,  and  erecting  his  batteries  and  an- 
preaches,  and  constantly  skirmishing  at  the  bridges  and  ford^s 
By  this  time  the  m  litia  of  New-York  and  the  vo  unteers  of 
Vermont  were  pouring  in  fropi  all  quarters.     They  were  aU 
pkced  along  the  Saranac,  to  prevent  the  enemy's  ciLshg  the 
iver,  exceptmg  a  strong  body  sent  in  his  rear  to  harrass  him 
ay  and  night,  and  keep  him  in  continual  alarm.     The  mi  it"a 
behaved  with  great  spirit  after  the  first  day,  and  the  voluntee;' 
of  Vermont  were  exceedingly  serviceable.  The  regular  troons 
Z:^r!{!^^  the  constant  skirmishing,  and  repSted  IS 

on Tn^  'Sf  "^''''?"^?  '^^  ^"f""^^^'  ^"^  ^^i"ced  a  determiii 
tion  to  hold  out  to  the  last  extremity. 


*ioo 


UlbrORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


Meanwhile  the  British  were  strenuously  engaged  in  prepar- 
ing the  fleet,  which  was  destined  to  co-operate  with  the  land 
forces.  It  appeared  in  view  at  Plattsburgh  early  in  the  morn- 
ing of  the  1 1th.  This  fleet  consisted  of  the  frigate  Confiance, 
carrying  39  guns,  27  of  which  were  twenty-four-pounders;  the 
brig  Linnet,  cai  rying  16  guns;  the  sloops  Chub  and  Finch,  each 
carrying  1 1  guns,  and  thirteen  galleys,  five  of  which  carried 
two  and  the  remainder  one  gun  each.  The  American  force 
consisted  of  the  Saratoga,  carrying  26  guns,  eight  of  M-hieh 
were  long  twenty-four-pounders;  the  Eagle,  20  p  ms;  the  Ti- 
conderoga  17;  the  Preble  7;  and  ten  galleys,  six  oi  which  car- 
ried two,  the  remainder  one  gun  each.  The  British  were  su- 
perior, both  in  size  and  number  of  guns. 

At  8  in  the  morning,  the  American  look-out-boat  announced 
to  commodore  Macdonough,  the  commander  of  the  squadron, 
the  approach  of  the  enemy.  He  at  this  time  lay  at  anchor,  in 
Plattsburg  bay,  ciilmly  awaiting  the  approach  of  the  British 
squadron,  the  fleet  being  moored  in  line,  abreast  of  the  works 
with  a  division  of  five  gun-boats  on  each  flank.  At  9,  the  Bri- 
tish fleet  anchored  in  line  abreast  the  American  squadron,  at 
about  300  yards  distance,  the  Confiance  opposed  to  the  Sara- 
toga, the  Linnet  to  the  Eagle;  the  Britisli  galleys  and  one  of 
the  sloops  to  the  Ticonderoga,  Preble,  and  the  left  division  of 
the  American  galleys;  the  other  sloop  to  the  right  division  of 
the  American  galleys. 

In  this  situation  the  whole  force  on  both  sides  became  en- 
gaged, the  Saratoga  sufi*ering  much  from  the  heavy  fire  of  the 
Confiance.  Bwtthe  fire  of  the  Saratoga  was  also  very  destruc- 
tive to  hei .  The  Ticonderoga  likewise  gallantly  sustained  her 
full  share  of  the  action.  At  half  past  10  o'clock  the  Eagle, 
not  being  able  to  bring  her  guns  to  bear,  cut  her  cable  and  an- 
chored in  a  more  elligible  position,  between  the  Sai-atogo  and  the 
Ticonderoga,  where  she  vciy  nuir'i  annoyed  the  eneir)y,butufor- 
tunately  left  the  Saratog?  exposed  to  a  call-^'b  ^i'^  ^^^^  ^^^^  ^?'^' 
my'sbrig.  The  guns  ontae  starboard  side  of  the  Saratoga  being 
nearly  all  dismounted,  or  not  manageable,  a  stern-anchor  was 
let  go,  the  bower-cable  cut,  and  the  ship  winded  with  a  fresh 
broadside  on  the  enemy's  ship,  which  soon  after  surrendered. 
A  broadside  was  tnen  sprung  to  bear  on  the  brig,  which  surren- 
dered in  about  fifteen  minutes  after. 

The  sloop  that  was  opposed  to  the  Eagle,  had  struck  some 
time  before,  and  drifted  down  the  line;  the  sloop  which  was 
,.,UK  tu^\f  fvaiw^vs  havinp-  stmck  also.     Three  of  the  enemy  s 
galleys  weix  sunk,  the  oUiers  pulled  off.     The  American  flo 
tilla  were  about  obeying  with  alacrity  the  signal  to  follow  them, 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


201 


>cd  in  prcpai- 
with  the  land 
f  in  the  morn- 
ate  Confiance, 
pounders;  the 
ul  Finch,  each 
which  carried 
ncrican  force 
ight  of  M'hieh 
g  ms;  the  ri- 
ot which  car- 
itish  were  su- 

oat  announced 
the  squadron, 
^  at  anchor,  in 
of  the  British 
t  of  the  works 
At  9,  the  Bri- 
\  squadron,  at 
I  to  the  Sara- 
!ys  and  one  of 
left  division  of 
ght  division  of 

Es  became  en- 
avy  fire  of  the 
)  very  destruc- 
r  sustained  her 
)ck  the  Eagle, 
r  cable  and  an- 
ii-atogo  and  the 
nemy,butufor- 
efrom  theenc- 
Saratoga  being 
srn-anchor  was 
ed  with  a  fresli 
IV  surrendered. 
,  which  surren- 

id  struck  some 
oop  which  was 
of  the  enemy's 
:  American  flo 
to  follow  them, 


^vheii  all  the  vcisels  were  reported  to  the  commodore  as  in 
a  sinkmg  state;  it  then  became  necessary  to  annul  the  siimal 
to  the  galleys,  and  order  their  men  to  the  pumps.  The  enemy's 
galleys  thus  got  off  in  a  shattered  condition,  for  there  was  ilot 
a  masL  m  either  squadron  that  could  stand  to  make  sail  on;  the 
lower  rigging,  being  nearly  all  shot  away,  hung  down  as  though 
It  had  been  just  placed  over  the  mast  heads. 

The  Saratoga  had  fifty-five  Vound  shot  in  her  hull;  the  Con- 
hance  one  hundred  and  five.  The  Saratoga  was  twice  set  on 
hre  by  hot  shot  from  the  Confiance.  The  enemy's  shot  must 
Have  pnncipally  passed  just  over  the  heads  of  the  sailors,  as 
there  were  not  twenty  whole  hammocks  in  the  nettings  at  the 
close  of  the  action,  which  lasted  without  intermission  two  hours 
and  twenty  minutes,* 

This  naval  engagement  was  in  fulj  view  of  both  armif  s  at 
i  lattsburg.  The  killed  on  board  the  American  squadron 
amounted  to  52,  the  wounded  to  58.  The  killed  on  board  thi 
captured  vessels  amounted  to  84,  including  captain  Downie, 
the  commander  of  the  squadron;  the  wounded  amounted  to 
1 10;  the  loss  on  board  the  British  galleys  has  never  been  as- 
certained. The  number  of  men  in  the  American  squadron 
was  820;  the  British  were  supposed  to  exceed  1000. 

The  batteries  on  shore  were  opened  on  the  American  works 
at  the  same  instant  that  the  engagement  commenced  on  the 
lake,  and  continued  throwing  bomb-shells,  sharpnells,  balls, 
and  Con-reve  rockets,  until  sun-set,  when  the  bombardment 
ceased,  every  battery  of  the  British  being  sUenced.     Three 
eflorts  were  made  to  pass  the  river  at  the  commencement  of 
the  cannonade  and  liombardment,  with  a  view  of  assaulting 
the  wo4-ks,  and  an  immense  number  of  scaling-ladders  had 
been  prepared  for  that  purpose.     One  of  these' attempts  was 
made  at  the  village  bridge,  another  at  the  upper  bridge,  and  a 
third  at  a  ford  about  three  miles  from  the  works.     The  two 
first  were   repulsed  by  the  regulars;  at  the  ford  by  the  volun- 
teers and  militia.     Here  the  enemy  suffered  severely  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  prisoners;  a  considerable  body  having  crossed 
the  stream,  all  of  whom  were  either  killed,  taken,  or  driven 
back.     A  whole  company  of  the  76th  regiment  was  here  des- 
troyed, the  three  lieutenants  and  twenty-seven  men  prisoners, 


*  ^  cock,  the  «  bird  of  wary'*  was  in  the  Saratoga,  and  re- 
fieatedly  cronvedfroin  the  shrouds  during  the  action.  J  similar 
circumstance  occurred  in  Fort  MiHpnm  ^7/W«o.  /a»   k — a i 

.. y     ^_,  »,„      trrt      vjrr-.i/u.}  u~ 

ment. 


■ 


2C2 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


the  captain  and  the  rest  killed.    The  woods  at  this  place  were 
very  favourable  to  the  operations  of  the  militia. 

The  ftirther  prosecution  of  the  expedition  having  become 
impracticable  by  the  capture  of  the  fleet,  an  event  totally  un- 
looked-for, at  dusk  the  er.emy  withdrew  his  artillery  from  the 
batteries,  and  raised  the  siege;  and  at  nine,  under  the  cover  of 
the  night,  sent  off  in  a  great  hurry  all  the  baggage  he  could 
find  transport  for,  and  also  his  artillery.  At  two,  the  next 
morning,  the  whole  army  precipitately  retreated,  leaving  be- 
hind their  sick  and  wounded;  the  commander  left  a^iote  with 
the  surgeon,  requesting  for  them  the  humane  attention  of  gen- 
eral Macomb. 

Vast  quantities  of  provisions  were  left  behind  and  destroy- 
ed, also  an  immense  quantity  of  bomb-shells,  cannon-balls, 
grape-shot,  ammunition,  flints,  &c.  entrenching  tools  of  all 
sorts,  and  tents  and  marquees.  A  great  deal  was  afterwards 
found  concealed  in  the  ponds  and  creeks,  and  buried  in  the 
ground,  and  a  vast  quantity  was  carried  off  by  the  inhabitants. 

Such  w^s  the  precipitancy  of  the  retreat  of  the  British,  that 
they  arrived  at  Ch^zy,  a  distance  of  eight  miles,  before  their 
flight  was  discovered.  The  light  troops,  volunteers,  and  mi- 
litia pursued  immediately;  and  some  of  the  mounted  men 
made  prisoners  of  a  few  of  the  rear  guard.  A  continual  fall 
of  rain  and  a  violent  storm,  prevented  further  pursuit.  Up- 
wards of  300  deserters  came  in. 

The  British  officers  of  the  army  and  navy  who  were  killed, 
were  buried  with  the  honours  of  war.  The'  humane  treatment 
of  the  Americans  to  the  wounded,  and  their  genero\is  and 
polite  attention  to  the  prisoners,  were  gratefully  mentioned  by 
captain  Pring  (who  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  British 
fleet  on  the  fall  of  captain  Downie)  in  his  oflicial  dispatch  to 
the  admiralty.* 

Thus  were  two  formidable  invasions,  in  which  both  the  sea 


*  The  humane  attention  to  their  pri&oners^  for  ivhich  the 
Americans  have  been  so  remarkable^  has  led  to  most  singular 
conclusions  in  Kngland.  Lord  Liverfiool  said  in  parliament^ 
that  "  in  many  places  a  strong  disposition  had  been  shown  by 
the  American  people  to  put  themselves  under  our  protection^ 
and  that  their  treatment  of  our  officers  led  to  any  co7icluiiion 
rather  than  to  the  beVuf  that  they  enttrtaiti  any  animosity 
agaist  this  country^  or  that  they  were  not  fully  persuaded  thai 
the  war  was  a  war  of  ti?>provQkcd  aggression  on  the  part  of 
their  own  government." 


place  were 

ig  become 
totally  un- 
v  from  the 
he  cover  of 
2  he  could 
0,  the  next 
leaving  be- 
a^iote  with 
tion  of  gen- 

nd  destroy- 
mnon-balls, 
:ool9  of  all 
afterwards 
iried  in  the 
inhabitants. 
Jritish,  that 
)efore  their 
:rs,  and  mi- 
•unted  men 
jntinual  fall 
rsuit.     Up- 

vere  killed, 
e  treatment 
nero\is  and 
entioned  by 
the  British 
dispatch  to 

)oth  the  sea 


1"  nuhich  the 
isi  fiingular 
/larliatnent, 
n  t.honvn  by 

protection^ 
'  co7icluiiion 
y  ariimositij 
tiuaded  that 

the  part  of 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAK. 


203 


nelr  V  at  r.  ^^  ^''''  ^"'^^"  co-operated,  totally  frustrated, 
w?//if  1 1  T^^  moment,  while  another  British  squadron 
was  added  to  the  trophies  of  the  American  navy.        '^^^'^'^^ 

concmale  tie'  ^T  S^'''?  °^  '^^  ^"'*'  '^'^  ^''"^'^  ^^^^^ed  to 
bo  rs  f^nnl^  1  \  ^  ?^^5  ''^^^'»  ^y  exempting  their  har- 
inn?    T  '^^?ckade,  by  refraining  from  the  predatory  incur- 

ase^Jven  Z^'^l'''''  'T'^  ^^^  '°"^^-"  --ts,  and' in  one 
fnul    I     P"oclaimmg  that  a  system  of  perfect  neutrality  was 

T^e  nom  n?*  M  'l^^^^^'^^y^^^^  was  adopted  this  summer, 
ine  poitsof  New  England  were  included  in  the  sweeoino- 
system  of  blockading  the  whole  of  the  American  coasrS 

nertv  rndT'i;'''i  ^'"^^  ^"V  ^^^<^  destruction  of  private^pro- 
invlllT    ?"^"^  ^  large  portion  of  the  District  of  Maine  was 

nt    fit  ^^Pt"r^dby  a  powerful  force  by  land  and  wateT 
course  of  tlf.""""'^  remarkable  attacks,  which  occurred  in  the 
course  of  the  campaign,  was  that  made  by  sir  Thomas  Hardv 
upon  Stomngton  a  small  village  in  Connecdcut,  aboS  2o  m?  I 

":  dy"^  -^^  ''-^^  ^l^  ^f  ^-^-t,  commo'dor: 

-Adray  appeared  oft  the  village  with  one  74,  one  fricate.  one 
bomb-ship,  and  two  gun-brigs,  and  immediately  summoned  ?he 
place  to  surrender.     In  the  course  of  the  day,  a  number  of 
we^^^th'tM  '%'''^  ^"?*'^  P^^^^'  ^^^  condftions TquTred 
don,  should  be  immediately  sent  off  to  the  squadron;  that  the 
two  guns  in  the  battery  should  be  removed;  and  that  noTorn  > 
does  should  be   fitted  from,  or  suffered  to  be  irthe  ha  boun 
I  he  terms  being  scut;  over  to  New  London  to  general  Cushine 
be  commandmg  officer  of  this  district,  he  replied,  thafSfe 
reques    for  the  removal  of  Mr.   Stewart's  family  would  be 
fonvarded  to  Washington;  with  the  others  he  wouKt  com! 

In  the  evening,  the  British  commenced  the  attack  with 
rockets  from  one  of  the  brigs:  a  great  nun.ber  of  rockets  were 
thrown,  with  little  or  no  effect:  The  bri..  then  hauled  ud 
withm  a  short  distance  of  the  battery,  and^  krpTup  a  heavv 
and  weli-directed  fire  from  guns  of  a  /ery  lar^eS.  whkh 
was  returned  by  the  two  eiglLen-poundeJs  in'^het^^e  J 'e"' 
till  their  ammunition  was  expended.  During  this  time  the 
f^l  M  ^""t""'!' '  A  supply^f  ammunidon1.a"^^^^^^^ 
hom  New  London,  the  fire  from  the  battery  was  re-com- 
menced,  and  with  such  effect,  that  the  brig  slipped  her  cabTs, 

^nd  towed  off,  out  of  reach  of  fhp  r\crhtr.r...^^^,,L^ ,.     .      ' 

ing  previously  swung  clear  of  the  g?ound;"''""""""  '"''  ''"''' 

On  the  10th,  a  number  of  flags  passed;  the  commodore  still 


204 


HISTORY    OF  THE  WAR. 


insisting  on  his  former  terms.  On  the  followmg  morning-, 
the  last  flag  passed,  with  Hardy's  ultimatum,  at  1 1  o'clock, 
\i2.:  that  Mrs.  Stewart  should  be  put  on  board  by  2  o'clock 
P.  M.  or  he  would  destroy  the  place.  He,  however,  did  not 
copmience  till  3  oclock,  at  which  time  the  bomb-ship  com- 
raenccJ  from  two  mortars,  one  a  15  inch  and  the  other  13. 
The  bombardment  continued  from  this  time  till  half  past  8  in 
the  evening,  without  intermission;  the  place  was  several  times 
on  fire,  and  as  often  put  out  by  the  soldiers  and  inhabitants. 

At  da)'-light  on  the  12tli,  the  attack  waS  re-commenced 
from  tiie'bomb-ship,  seventy-four,  and  frigate,  and  continued, 
with  little  intermission,  till  half  past  9,  A.  M.  when  ^le  tide 
began  to  ebb,  and  the  ships  tl.ought  proper  to  haul  off'.  In 
the  afternoon  they  set  sai\,  and  left  the  sound  by  dark. 

As  commodore  Hardy  has  never  favoured  the  world  witli 
his  official  account  of  this  valiant  and  famous  affair,  we  are 
entirely  at  a  loss  to  conjecture  what  could  have  been  his  mo- 
tive. One  horse^  and  one  goose  constituted  the  whole  list  of 
killed  on  shore;  a  lieutenant  and  three  privates,  of  the  militia, 
wert  slightly  wounded  by  the  bursting  of  a  shell,  and  two  men 
in  the  battery  by  a  piece  going  off  at  half  charge.  The  town 
was  but  little  damaged,  considering  the  tremendous  cannonade 
and  bombardment  it  sustained:  one  half  of  the  houses  were 
untouched,  and  not  one  entirely  demolished,  although  every 
ship  threw  its  shot  completely  over  the  point.  *  Nearly  300 
shells  and  fire-carcasses  were  thrown  into  the  village,  making, 
it  was  estimated,  50  tons  of  metal.  Three  or  four  tons  of  shot, 
carcasses,  and  bombs  were  collected  by  the  inhabitants. — After 
■  the  bombardment,  it  was  learnt  from  gOod  authority,  that  the 
British  had  a  number  killed,  and  several  badly  wounded,  by 
the  fire  from  the  two  eighteen-pounders  on  shore. 

A  few  weeks  after  the  declaration  of  war,  sir  J.  C.  Sher- 
broke,  irovcrnor  of  Nova  Scotia,  &c.  issued  his  proclamation, 
ordering  and  directing  alt  his  majesty's  subjects,  under  his 
government,  to  abstain  from  molesting  the  inhabitants  livirg 
on  the  shores  of  the  United  States,  contiguous  to  Nova  Scotia 
and  New  Brunswick;  and  on  no  account  to  nrolest  the  goods 
and  unarmed  coasting  vessels,  belonging  to  defenceless  inhabi- 
tants on  the  frontiers,  so  long  as  they  shall  abstain  on  their 
part  from  any  act  of  hostility  and  molestation  towards  the  in- 
habitants of  Nova  Scotia  and  New  Brunswick;  on  the  ground 
that  predatory  warfare  carried  on  against  defenceless  inhabi- 
tants could  answer  no  good  purpose. 

Another  proclamation  of  the  same  date  was  issued  by  gov- 
ernor Sherbrokc  and  admiral  Sawyer,  purporting,  that  having 


g  morning', 
1 1  o'clock, 
y  2  o'clock 
vcVf  did  not 
)-ship  com- 
e  other  13. 
Uf  past  8  in 
sveral  times 
habitants, 
commenced 
d  continued, 
len  Uie  tide 
laul  ofl'.  In 
ark. 

world  witli 
fair,  we  are 
een  his  mo- 
ivhole  list  of 
f  the  militia, 
md  two  men 
The  town 
IS  cannonad^' 
louses  were 
lOUgh  every 
•  Nearly  300 
\ge,  making, 
tons  of  shot, 
ants. — After 
•ity,  that  the 
,vounded,  by 

J.  C.  Sher- 
iroclamation, 
s,  under  his 
litants  livii  g 

Nova  Scotia 
St  the  goods 
eless  inhabi- 
tain  on  their 
vards  the  in- 
n  the  ground 
eless  inhabi- 

sued  by  gov- 
,  that  having 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR.' 


205' 


understood  that  the  inhabitants  of  Eastport  >iad  manifested  a 
disposition  to  avoid  hostilities  with  the  subjects  of  Great  B"i- 
tain.  It  is  niadc  known  to  them  and  all  concerned,  that  from  a 
wish  to  discourage,  as  far  as  passible,  every  species  of  depre- 
datory warfare,  which  can  only  have  a  tendency  to  distress  pri- 
vate individuals,  they  have  respectively  issued  orders  to  the 
naval  and  land  forces,  to  respect  the  persons  and  property  of  the 
mhabitants  of  Eastport,  so  long  as  they  shall  carry  on  their 
usual  and  accnstomed  trade  ajid  intercourse  with  any  part  of 
these  provinces,  and  reciprocally  abstain  Irom  acts  of  hostility 
Adding,  that  this  system  of  perf;ict  neutrality  '.owaids  Eastport 
should  not  be  departed  from  without  due  and  timely  notice  be- 
ing previously  given  to  the  inhabitants. 

Though  some  expressions  in  these  proclamations  appear  as 
it  they  v/ere  intended  as  a  mere  cover  for  smuggling  transac- 
tions, yet  the  humanity  and  good  sense  displayed  in  the  ac- 
knowledgment,"  that  no  good  could  result  from  depredatory 
warfare,  which  can  only  have  a  tendency  to  distress  pi'ivate  in- 
dividuals," is  worthy  of  high  commendation,  and  it  is  sincerely 
to  be  regretted  that  the  same  principle  had  not  been  univer- 
sally acted  on.  It  would  have  been  worthy  of  two  great  and 
magnanimous  nations  to  have  waged  war,  <^  in  a  manner  most 
consonant  to  the  principles  of  humanity,  and  to  those  friendly 
relations,  which  it  was  desirable  to  preserve  between  the  twa 
nations,  after  the  restoration  6f  peace." 

^Vhether  «  due  and  timely  notice  was  previously  given'*  to 
the  inhabitants  of  Eastport  of  the  departure  from  this  system 
of  perfect  neutrality,  we  have  no  means  of  ascertaining.  But 
'cibout  two  years  after  the  date  of  this  proclamation,  (July  U, 
1814)  thelsland  on  which  it  stands  was  captured  by  a  Britisli 
squadron,  and  formally  taken  possession  of  in  the  name  of  his, 
Britannic  msjesty. 

Eastport  is  situated  on  Moose  Ishnd,  in  Passamaquoddy  bay 
Although  this  island  has  been  held  by  the  Americans  since  the 
revolutionary  war,  the  right  to  its  sovereignty  has  never  been 
settled,  it  being  conside^jed  both  by  the  Americans  and  British 
as  withm  their  boundary  line.  As  soon  as  it  was  taken  posties- 
sion  of  by  the  British,  the  inhabitants  were  ordered  to  appear 
^nd  declare  their  intention,  whether  they  would  take  the  oath 
of  allegiance  to  his  Britannic  majesty;  and  were  further  noti- 
fied, that  all  person*  ii®t  disposed  to  take  this  oath,  would  be 
required  tadepart  from  the  island  in  the  courae  of  seven  days,, 
lanless  special  permission  was  granted  to  them  to  remain  for  a 
.-onv^ci  period.  But  a  communication  was  also  sent  to  the  gov- 
ernment of  Massachusetts,  stating,  that  the  obiect  of  the  Rii- 

s  2 


206 


HISTORY    OF  THE  WAK. 


tish  government  was  to  obtain  possession  of  the  islands  of 
Passamaquoddy  bay,  in  consequence  of  their  being  considered 
within  their  boundary  line;  that  they  h?.dno  intention  of  cij^rry- 
ing  on  offensive  opt  rations  against  the  people  residing  on  the 
continent,  unless  their  conduct  should  oblige  them  to  resort  to 
the  mearure;  and  in  the  event  of  their  remaining  quiet,  they 
should  not  be  disturbed  either  in  their  property  or  persons. 

This  resolution,  however,  of  avoiding  hostile  operations 
against  the  inhabitants  of  the  continent  was  adhered  to  for  a 
much  shorter  period  than  the  "  system  of  perfect  neutrality," 
promised  to  be  observed  towards  the  inhabitants  of  Eastport. 
For  the  British  ministry,  elevated  by  the  success  of  their  arms 
iii  Europe,  had  come  to  the  resolution  to  demand  large  and 
important  cessions  of  territory  from  the  United  States.  One 
of  those  cessions  included  that  part  of  the  District  of  Maine 
Avhich  lies  eastward  of  Penobscot  river,  which  they  considered 
desirable  on  account  of  its  securing  to  them  a  direct  commu- 
nication between  Halifax  and  Quebec.  Instructions  were  ac- 
cordingly sjsnt  out  to  lieutenant  general  Sherbroke,  governor 
of  Nova  Scotia,  &c.  to  effect  the  conquest  of  that  part  of  Maine, 
of  which  it  was  intended  to  demand  the  cession.  Towards  the 
end  of  August  an  expedition  sailed  from  Halifax  to  accomplish 
the  object  in  view.  The  troops  were  conrimanded  by  governor 
Sherbroke,  the  naval  forces  by  rear  admiral  Griffith. 

It  was  governor  Sherbroke's  original  intention  first  to  have 
taken  possession  of  Machias,  and  then  proceed  to  Castine,  on 
the  Penobscot,  but  on  the  30th  of  August  the  fleet  fell  in  with 
the  Rifleman  sloop  of  war,  from  which  information  was  obtain- 
ed that  the  United  States'  frigate  Adams  had  arrived  in  the 
^.Penobscot;  and  that,  from  the  apprehension  of  being  attacked 
'  -  by  British  cruizers,  if  she  remained  at  the  entrance  of  the  ri- 
ver, she  had  run  up  as  high  as  Hampden,  where  her  guns  had 
been  landed,  and  mounted  on  shore  for  her  protection. 

This  information  determined  governor  Sherbroke  to  proceed 
first  to  the  Penobscot,  in  order  to  arrive  there  before  the  Ame- 
licans  had  time  to  strengthen  themsBives.  The  fleet  arrived 
off  Castine  on  the  1st  of  September.  The  small  garrison  in 
the  fort  not  being  able  to  resist  the  overwhelming  force  of  the 
British,  discharged  their  guns,  blew  up  the  fort,  and  retired. 
The  enemy  then  took  possession  without  opposition. 

The  following  day  a  considerable  force  was  despatched  up 
*he  river  to  Hampden,  in  order  to  capture  or  destroy  the 
Adams.  Captain  Morris,  the  commander,  had  received  intel- 
ligence the  dav  before  of  the  arrival  of  the  expedition  oil  V^as- 
tine,  which  was  immediately  forwarded  to  brigadier  general 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


207 


3  islands  of 
f  considered 
on  of  c^rry- 
iding  on  the 
,  to  resort  to 
5  quiet,  they 
•  persons. 
3  operations 
;red  to  for  a 

neutrality," 
of  Eastport. 
>f  their  arms 
id  large  and 
kates.  One 
ict  of  Maine 
y  considered 
rect  commu- 
jrts  were  ac- 
ke,  governor 
art  of  Maine, 
Towards  the 
o  accomplish 

by  governor 
fith. 

first  to  have 
o  Castine,  on 
it  fell  in  with 
n  was  obtain- 
irrived  in  the 
ing  attacked 
ice  of  the  ri- 
ber  guns  had 
:tion. 

ke  to  proceed 
ore  the  Ame- 

fleet  arrived 
11  garrison  in 
g  force  of  the 
L,  and  retired, 
ion. 
espatchcd  up 

destroy  the 
eceived  intel- 
lition  off  Cas- 
adicr  general 


Blake,  of  the  militia,  with  a  request  that  he  would  direct  such 
force  as  could  be  collected  to  repair  immediately  to  Hampden. 
As  the  ship  was  prepared  for  heaving  down,  and  in  no  situation 
to  receive  her  armament,  the  attention  of  the  seamen  was  im- 
mediately directed  to  the  occui>ation  of  such  positions  on  shore 
as  would  best  enable  them  to  protect  her.  By  great  a«d  unre- 
mitted exertions,  and  the  prompt  assistance  of  all  the  inhabi- 
tants in  the  immediate  vicinity,  during  the  1st  and  2d,  nine 
pieces  were  transported  to  a  commanding  eminence  near  the 
ship,  one  to  the  place  selected  by  general  Blake  for  his  Ihie 
of  battle,  fourteen  upon  a  wharf  commanding  the  river  below, 
and  one  on  a  point  covering  the  communication  between  the 
hill  and  wharf  batteries — temporary  platforms  of  loose  plank 
were  laid,  and  such  other  arrangements  made  as  would  ena- 
ble them  to  dispute  the  passage  of  a  naval  force.  Want  of 
lime  prevented  Morris  from  improving  all  the  advantages  of 
his  position,  and  he  was  compelled  to  leave  his  rear  and  flanks 
to  the  defence  of  the  militia,  in  case  of  attack  by  land  troops. 

Favoured  by  a  fresh  breeze,  the  British  had  advanced  to 
within  three  miles  of  the  Adams  at  sun-set  on  the  2d,  with  the 
Sylph  mounting  22,  and  Peruvian  1 8  guns,  and  one  transport, 
one  tender,  and  ten  barges,  manned  with  seamen  from  the 
Bulwark  and  Dragon,  under  the  cbnnnand  of  commodore  Bar- 
rie.  Troops  were  landed,  under  the  command  of  colonel  John, 
opposite  their  shipping,  without  any  opposition,  their  num- 
bers unkown,  but  supposed  to  be  about  350.  To  oppose  these 
troops,  about  370  militia  were  then  collected,  assisted  by  lieu- 
tenant Lewis,  of  the  United  States  artillery,  who,  by  a  forced 
march,  had  arrived  from  |)asthie,  with  his  detachment  of  28 
men. 

Many  of  the  militia  were  without  arms,  and  most  of  them 
without  any  ammunition,  and,  as  the  seamen  were  barely  suffi- 
cient to  man  tiie  batteries,  the  ship's  muskets  were  distribut- 
ed among  the  militiaj  the  sick  were  sent  across  the  ci^ek,  with 
orders  br  such  as  were  able,  to  secure  themselves  in  the  woods, 
in  case  of  defeat.  These  arrangements  were  not  concluded 
until  late  on  the  evening  of  the  2d. 

During  the  night,  the  militia  were  reinforced  by  three  com- 
panies. The  British  were  also  landed,  and  at  five  next  morn- 
ing, marched  towards  Hampden,  in  front  of  which  the  mili^ 
were  advantageously  posted.  But  they  were  not  able  to  with- 
stand the  attack  of  the  British  regulars;  they  soon  gave  way 
and  fled  in^confusion.  Captain  Morris  and  his  sailors  had  now 
no  aiterwaiive  but  precipitate  retreat  or  captivity;  their  rear 
and  »«ifelsa  being  entirely  exposed,  while  they  were  destitute 


f 


20» 


msrouY  OF  the  war. 


of  any  other  defence  on  that  side  than  their  pikes  and  cutlasses- 
Lieutenant  Wadsworth  was  therefore  ordered  to  skipe  the 
guns,  and  retire  across  the  bridge,  which  was  done  in  perfect 
order,  the  marines  under  lieutenant  Watson  covering  the  rear. 
The  remainder  of  Morris's  force  was  at  the  same  time  order- 
ed to  spii.e  the  guns  at  the  lower  battery,  fijc  the  ship,  and 
then  join  their  companions  across  the  creek. 

Before  these  last  orders  were  fully  executed,  the  enemy  ap- 
peared on  the  hill  from  which  the  militia  had  retired,  and  the 
seamen  were  consequently  exposed  to  their  fire  for  a  short 
time  wiule  completing  them.  When  they  commenced  their 
retreat,  it  was  fouad  to  be  impossible  to  gain  the  bridge;  but 
they  succeeded  iu  fording  the  creek,  and  rejoining  their  com- 
panions, without  receiving  the  slightest  injury  from  the  fire  of 

the  enemy. 

The  loss  of  the  militia  was  estimated  by  the  Rritish  at  30  or 
40  killed,  wounded,  and  mU&ing-,  while  their  loss  was  only  1 
killed,  8  wounded,  and  1  missing.  Captain  Morris's  loss  was 
only  a  seaman  and  a  marine  made  prisoner.  He  estimates  the 
loss  of  the  navai  force  opposed  to  him  at  8  or  10  killed,  and 
from  40  to  50  wounded,  principally  by  the  eighteen-pounder 
under  charge  of  iieutEnu.;t  Lewis,  of  the  United  States  artil- 
lery. 

Machias  being  now  the  only  post  remaiinng  between  the 

Penobscot  and  Passamaquoddy  bay,  a  brigade  was  sent  against 
it  from  Castine.  It  was  taken  without  resistance,  and  colonel 
Pilkington,  the  British  conmiander,  was  making  arrangements 
to  proceed  into  the  interior  of  the  country,  when  he  received 
a  letter  from  brigadier-general  Brewer,  commanding  the  dis- 
trict, engaging  that  the  militia  within  the  county  of  Washing- 
ton should  not  bear  arms,  or  in  any  way  serve  against  his  Bri- 
tannic majesty  during  the  war.  A  similar  ofter  having  been 
made  by  the  civil  officers  and  principal  citizens  of  the  county,. 
a  cessation  of  arms  M^as  agreed  upon.  Thus  was  this  large 
district  of  country  from  the, Penobscot  eastward,  taken  posses- 
sion of  almost  without  resistance. 

Having  now  reviewed  the  most  important  transactions  of 
the  campaign  on  our  maritime  frontier,  we  will  next  direct  our 
attention  to  the  upper  lakes  in  the  north-west.  After  the 
capture  of  the  British  fleet  on  lake  Erie,  in  1813.,  an  expedi- 
tion against  the  important  post  of  Michillimackinac  had  been 
contemplated;  but  the  lateness  of  the  season  prevented  its 
being  carried  into  effect.  Preparations  were  therefore  made 
the  ioiiowmg  summer,  anu  an  expcUmuu  ^cUi^u  ..-^..i  j^^vi-mt: 
against  the  fort  on  the  3d  of  July,  18  Hj  the  troops  uno^r  the 


»-  y^' 


id  cutlasses- 
3  skipe  the 
le  in  perfect 
hig  the  rear, 
time  order- 
ic  ship,  and 

B  enemy  ap- 
rcd,  and  the 
;  for  a  short 
tcnced  their 
bridge;  but 
g  their  com- 
m  the  fire  of 

ilish  at  30  or 
IS  was  only  1 
is's  loss  was 
jstimates  the 
3  killed,  and 
:een-pounder 
States  artil- 

between  the 
>  sent  against 
,  and  colonel 
rrangeraents 
\  he  received 
ding  the  dis- 
of  Washing- 
ainst  his  Bri- 
■  having  been 
)f  the  county,, 
'as  this  large 
:aken  posses- 

anaactions  of 
jxt  direct  our 
t.  After  the 
3.,  an  expedi- 
nac  had  been 
prevented  its 
lerefore  made 

jps  uri^r  the 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


209 


command  of  colonel  Croglran,  the  naval  forces  under  captain 
Sinclair.  The  difficulties  encountered  on  the  flats  of  lake  St. 
Clair,  where  there  was  only  eight  feet  water,  and  the  rapid 
current  of  the  river,  prevertted  the  squadron  from  reaching 
IsUte  Huron  till  the  12th.*  Thence  the  squadron  shaped  its 
course  for  Matchadash  bay,  and  used  every  possible  effort  to 
gain  it,  but  without  effect.  Not  being  able  to  find  a  pilot  for 
that  unfrequented  part  of  the  lake,  and  finding  it  filled  with 
islands  and  sunken  rocks,  which  must  inevitably  have  projfcd 
the  destruction  of  the  fleet  had  they  persisted,  it  being  impos- 
sible to  avoid  them  on  account  of  the  impenetrable  fog  with 
which  the  lake  is  almost  continually  coveredj  and  finding  the 
army  already  growing  short  of  provisions,  it  was  agreed  be- 
ween  colonel  Croghan  and  the  commodore  to  push  for  the 
island  of  St.  Joseph's  near  the  head  of  the  lake,  where  the 
British  had  a  small  establishment,  and  here  they  arrived  on 
the  20th.     The  fort  being  found  deserted  was  destroyed. 

Whilst  the  squadron  remained  wind-bound  at  St.  Joseph's, 
a  detachment  of  infantry  and  artillery,  under  major  Holmes, 
was  dispatched  in  the  launches,  under  the  command  of  lieuten- 
ant Turner,  to  St.  Mary's,  to  break  up  the  establishment  at 
that  place,  and  capture  a  schooner  which  lay  there  waiting  for 
a  corgo  of  flour  for  the  North- West  company's  establishments 
on  lake  Superiorji^  which  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the 
American  squadron  by' the  capture  of  the  schooner  Minx,  on 
its  way  from  Michillimackinac  to  St.  Mary's.  The  establish- 
ment, against  which  this  expedition  was  directed,  is  a  factory 
of  the  Montreal  company,  situated  at  the  foot  of  the  falls  of 
St.  Mary,  the  stream  by  which  lake  Superior  discharges  its 
waters  into  lake  Huron.  These  falls  are  surmounted  by  a 
canal,  by  which  goods  are  passed  in  boats  from  the  vessels 
Avhich  navigate  one  lake  to  those  which  traverse  the.  other. 

The  launches,  under  lieutenant  Turner,  were  rowed  night 
and  day;  but  the  distance  being  60  miles,  against  a  strong  cur- 
rent, information  of  their  approach  reached  the  enemy  about 
two  hours  before  their  arrival,  carried  by  Indians  in  their  light 
canoes.  No  resistance  was  made  at  the  fort,  but  the  British 
and  Indians  made  their  escape,  carrying  with  them  all  the  light 
valuable  articles,  such  as  peltry,  clothes,  &c.  Turner,  with 
his  sailors  and  a  few  of  the  infantry,  instantly  proceeded  to 
the  head  of  the  rapids,  where  the  enemy,  finding  he  could  not 
get  off  with  the  vessel  Turner  was  in  quest  of,  set  fire  to  her 
in  several  places  and  scuttled  her.  Turner,  however,  suc- 
ceeded in  boarding  her,  and  by  considerable  exertions  extin- 
guished the  flames,  and  secured  her  from  sinking.     But  every 


210 


HISTORY   OP  THE  WAR. 


effort  failed  to  get  her  through  the  falls  in  safety.  She  bilged 
on  her  passage,  and  being  immediately  run  on  shore,  was 
burnt.  A  part  of  the  public  property  was  brought  away,  and 
the  remainder  destroyed.  All  private  property  was  res- 
pected. 

On  the  return  of  the  launches  to  St.  Joseph's,  the  squadron 
proceeded  to  Michillimackinac,  where  they  arrived  on  the 
26th.  This  place  is,  by  nature,  a  second  Gibraltar,  being  a 
high  rock,  inaccessible  on  every  side,  except  the  west:  from 
the  landing  to  the  heights  is  nearly  two  miles,  through  a  very 
thick  wood.  Finding  that  the  British  had  strongly  fortified 
the  height  overlooking  the  old  fort,  Croghan.  at  once  despaired 
of  being  able,  with  his  small  force,  to  carry  the  place  by  storm. 
He  therefore  determined  to  land  and  establish  himself  on 
some  favourable  position,  whence  he  would  be  enabled  to  an- 
noy the  enemy  by  gradual  and  slow  approaches;  under  cover 
of  his  artillery,  of  which  he  was  superior  to  the  enemy  in  point 
of  metal.  He  was  also  induced  to  adopt  this  step  by  the  sup- 
position, that  it  would  either  induce  the  enemy,  to  attack  him 
in  his  strong  holds,  or  force  the  Indians  and  Canadians,  the 
enemy's  most  efficient,  and  only  disposable  force,  off  the  island, 
as  they  would  be  very  unwilling  to  remain  after  a  permanent 
foothig  should  be  taken.  "^ 

Unfavourable  weather  prevented  the  landing  of  the  troops 
till  the  4th  of  August,  when  the  whole  force  was  disembarked 
on  the  west  end  of  the  island,  under  cover  of  the  guns  of  the 
siilpping.  The  line  being  quickly  formed,  advanced  towards 
a  field,  which  had  been  recommended  as  a  suitable  place  for 
a' camp,  by  persons  who  had  lived  several  years  on  the  island. 
Hardly  had  the  troops  arrived  at  the  edge  of  the  field,  before 
intelligence  wr.s  conveyed  to  colonel  Croghan  that  the  enemy 
was  a  short  distance  a-head,  and  in  a  few  seconds  a  fire  of  shot 
and  shells  opened  on  the  Americans,  from  a  battery  of  four 
pieces. 

The  enemy's  position  was  well  selected;  his  line  reached 
along  the  edge  of  the  woods,  at'  the  farther  extremity  of  the 
field,  and  was  covered  by  a  temporary  breastwork.  On  re- 
connoitering  the  enemy,  Croghan  determined  to  change  his 
position,  which  was  now  two  lines,  the  militia  forming  the 
front.  He  accordingly  ordered  the  battalion  of  regulars  un- 
der major  Holmes,  to  advance  to  the  right  of  the  militia,  thus 
to  outflank  the  enemy,  and  by  a  vigorous  eflort  gain  his  rear, 
P[iif  Hcfnrc  tliiR  TTirjvftmep.t  r.oiild  be  executedi  a  fire  was 
opened  by  some  Indians  posted  in  a  thick  wood  near  the 
American  vight,  which  proved  fatal  to  major  Holmes,  and 


BLISTOaT  OF  THE  WAR. 


211 


She  bilged 

shore,  was 

t  away,  and 

|r   was   res- 

16  squadron 
ved  on  the 
ar,  being  a 

west:  from 
3Ugh  a  very 
gly  fortified 
:e  despaired 
ce  by  storm. 

himself  on 
abled  to  an- 
under  cover 
jmy  in  point 

by  the  sup- 
>  attack  him 
nadians,  the 
S"  the  island, 
L  permanent 

the  troops 
lisembarked 
guns  of  the 
ced  towards 
le  place  for 
n  tlie  island, 
field,  before 
t  the  enemy 
1  fire  of  shot 
tery  of  fonr 

ine  reached 
emity  of  the 
rk.  On  re- 
change  his 
forming  the 
egulars  un- 
militia,  thus 
ain  his  rear, 
i  a  fire  was 
od  near  the 
tlohnes,  and 


severely  wounded  captain  Desha,  the  next  officer  in  rank.  This 
unlucky  fire,  by  depriving  the  battalion  of  the  services  of  its 
most  valuable  officers,  threw  that  part  of  the  line  into  confu- 
sion,  from  which  the  best  exertions  of  the  officers  were  not 
able  to  recover  it.  «^it:  not 

Finding  it  impossible  to  gain  the  enemy's  left,  owine  to  the 
impenetrable  thickness  of  the  woods,  a  charge  ^vas  ordered  to 
be  made  by  the  regulars  immediately  against  the  front.  This 
Charge,  though  made  in  some  confusion,  served  to  drive  the 
enemy  bac^  m  the  woods,  whence  an  annoying  fire  was  kept 
up  by  the  Indians.  Lieutenant  Morgan  was  now  ordered  uo 
with  a  ight  piece  to  assist  the  left,  which,  at  this  time,  was 
particularly  galled;  its  fire  soon  forced  the  enemy  to  retire  to 
a  greater  distance.  ^       i^mc  lo 

The  position  contemplated  for  the  camp  being  now  occupied, 

ZtX^u^t  ^°  ^^  ^7  ""*  ""^^"^  ^^"^^^^'  f»'«"^  '^^i'^g  interspersed 
with  thickets,  and  every  way  intersected  by  ravines.  Cro^han 
fletermined,  therefore,  no  longer  to  expose  his  force  to  the  fire 
ot  an  enemy  deriving  every  advantage  which  could  be  obtained 
trom  numbers  and  a  knowledge  of  the  position,  and  therefore 
effected.^  ""^^'"^^  ^°'^^'^'  ^^^  shippings  which  was  immediately 
The  loss  of  the  Americans  in  this  affair  was  13  killed,  51 
wounded,  and  2  missing.  The  loss  of  the  British  has  not  been 
ascertained. 

Michillimackinac  being  thus  found  impregnable  by  assault, 
measures  were  adopted  for  starving  it  into  submission,  by  cut ' 
tmg  off  Its  supplies.  The  whole  of  the  troops,  except  three 
companies,  were  therefore  dispatched"  in  two  of  the  vessels 
to  jom  general  Brown  on  the  Niagara,  and  the  rest  of  the' 
squadron  directed  their  course  to  the  east  side  of  the  lake,  in 
order  to  break  up  any  of  the  establishments  of  the  enemy  in 

with  TT'  ^^^  °"'y  practicable  lines  of  communication 
wih  the  lower  country,  while  the  Americans  were  masters 
otlakeEne,  was  with  Montreal  by  Outawas  or  Grand  rivcix 

wkh   ifueT""-^^''^'  '""u^r  ?f^  Portage  or  carrying-place, 
jvith  lake    Nipissing,  which  latter   empties  itself  into  lake 
iuron  by  means  of  French  river;  or  with  York,  by  means  of 
lake  bimcoe  and   Nautauwasaga  river.     The  first  of  these 
communications  was  learnt  to  be  impracticable    during  the 
present  season,  on  account  of  the  marshy  state  of  the  portLes 
Ihe  squadron,  therefore,  proceeded  to  the  mouth  of  the  Nau- 
tauwasaga, where  it  arrived  on  the  13th  of  August,  anrl  fh. 
bv  ^h^  Z""'^  immediately  disembarked  on  the  peninsula  formed 
by  the  river  and  lake,  for  the  purpose  of  fixing  a  camp. 


n  1  -T 


HISTORY  OF  THB  WAU. 


On  reconnoitcring  this  positiotj,  a  schooner,  the  only  one 
t.o?sessed  by  he  British  in  this  quarter,  was  discovered  in 
fhe  river,  a  few  hundred  yards  above,  under  cover  of  a  block- 
housT  erec  ed  on  a  commanding  situation  on  the  opposite 
shore  On  the  following  morning,  a  fire  was  opened  by  the 
Jf^^jno-  on  the  block-house  for  a  few  minutes,  but  with  1  ttle 
fffeToling  toat^^^^^  intervening  to  obscure  the  view 

Two    howitzers,    h "vever,   being    landed,    they  commenced 
2^7owinrsSs;  and  in  a  few  minutes  one  of  the  shells  burst 
n  the  b^octhoise,  which  shortly  after  blew  up  his  magazine 
tiinwmo-  the  enemy  barely  time  to  make  his  escape.     1  he  ex- 
nKon^set  fire  t^a  train  which  had  been  laid  for  the  destriic- 
tion  of  the  vessel,  and  in  an  instant  she  was  m  flames.     The 
necessai^v  prepara  ions  had  been  made  by  commodore  Sinclair 
for  lettSe  on  board  of  her;  but  frequent  and  heavy  explosions 
below  deck  made  it  too  great  a  risk  to  attempt  savmg  her. 
She  was  therefore,  with  her  cargo,  entirely  consumed, 
^'coTon;i  CroghaA  not  thinking  it  ^^visab  e  to  fomfy  and  gar- 
rison Nautauwasauga,  the  communication  from  Yo.k  being  so 
short  and  convenient,  that  any  force  left  there  might  easily  be 
curoff^nthe  winter,  the  Scorpion  and  Tigress  were  left  to 
tf  I  A^  It  rloselv  until  the  season  should  become  too  bolster- 
ouTfofb^at^^^r^^^^^^^^^^^  and  the  remainder  of  the  squadron 

ous  *o^  ?^^^  "^^  But  this  blockade,  which,  had  it  been 
TZt  nf?rcectvo.Xrobably  soon  have  made  a  bloodless 
?Xest  of  Mich  llimackinac,  was  soon  put  an  end  to  by  the 
rSreof  both  the  schooners.,  The  Tigress  was  carried  by 
boSg  frdm  the  enemy's  boats^on  the  night  of  the  3d  of  Sei> 

f:::ilV^V:tV:^^^^^^  of  MichilUmackinac 

'  Hffie^e^^Vr^^^^^^^  creek  Indians,  a 

the  left  bank  of  the  Tallapoostc. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAU. 


21. 


Notwithstanding  the  decisive  victories  that  had  been  obtain- 
ed by  the  American  troops,  and  the  heavy  losses  of  the  Indi- 
ans, and  the  destruction  of  their  principal  towns,  this  brave 
people  were  still  unsubdued.  General  Claiborne,  therefore 
marched  a  detachment  from  Fore  Claiborne,  o^  he  3th  of 
December,   1813,  with  a  view  to  the  further  destruction  of 

at  no  great  distance  above  where,  by  its  junction  with  the  Tom 
bigbee.  It  forms  the  Mobile  river.      The  object  in  view  wTs 
Tirnlari^'r^J'^'  ^''''''  Eccanachaca,  or^Holy  GrouncH 
bolvnf  H   '  ^^^^^°^"^  :^^«  informed,  was  occupied  by  a  largo 
body  of  the  enemy,  under  the  command  of  Weatherfoi-d,  a  half- 

w?r  K,  r  ','  '°  <^on^"^a»^^^^  the  Indians  that  commenced  the 
war  by  the  destruction  of  the  garrison  at  Fort  Mims. 

When  about  30  miles  from  the  town,  a  stockade  was  erected 
for  the  security  of  the  sick  and  the  heavy  baggage,  and  on  the 
morning  of  the  22d  the  troops  resumed  I hefr  fine  of  march' 

L^Z  T'^^  i^y  l^'^^y  ''"'""'S^  '''""^^'^  ^i^l^«"t  a  track  to 
fhll..    t""      ^"  \^^  morning  of  the  23d,  the  disposition  for 

1  Ln  1  K  7^'  "'•^'^^-  ^^^'^  '''^"P^  advanced  in  three  columns, 
a  small  body  acting  as  a  corps  de  reserve.     About  noon  the 

:  >  ""^  ,  "'''  ""^"^^  '"  ^''''^  ^*  t^^  t«^^"'  and. was  immediately 
vigorously  attacked  by  the  enemy,  who  had  been  apprised  of 
Uieir  approach,  and  had  chosen  their  field  of  acdon.  Beforo 
tne  centre  or  the  left  could  come  generally  into  action,  the  ene- 
my were  repulsed,  and  flying  in  all  directions,  many  of  them 
ca-Sting  away  their  arms. 

.  Thirty  of  the  Creeks  were  killed  in  this  rencontre,  and, 
judging  trom  appearances,  many  were  wounded.  The  loss  oii 
the  part  of  the  Americans  was  one  killed  and  six  wounded 

/V  pursuit  was  immediately  ordered;  but  from  the  nature  of 
the  country  nothing  was  effected.  The  town  was  nearly  sur- 
lounded  by  swamps  and  deep  ravines,  which  rendered  the  an- 
proach  of  the  troops  difficult,  while  it  facilitated  the  escape  of 
the  Indians.  In  the  town  was  found  a  large  quantity  of  provi- 
sions, and  immense  property  of  various  kinds,  which  the  ene- 
my, flying  precipitately,  were  obliged  to  leave  behind.  All 
were  destroyed,  together  with  the  village,  consisting  of  about 
^00  houses.  The  Indians  had  barely  time  to  remove  their  wo- 
men  and  children  Across  the  Alibama,  which  runs  near  where 
the  town  stood.  The  town  had  been  built  since  the  commence- 
ment ot  hostilities,  and  was  established  as  a  place  of  security 
*or  mc  inhabitants  of  several  villages. 

In  the  house  of  Weatherford,  the  commander,  was  found  a 
letter  trom  the  Spanish  governor  of  Pensacola  to  the  leader  of 

T 


dn% 


214 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAH. 


the  Creeks,  stating,  that  he  had  represented  thea-  request  oj 
arms  and  munitions  to  the  captain-general  m  Havanna,  but  had 
as  yet  received  no  answer.  He  was  in  hopes,  however,  he  stat- 
ed,  of  receiving  them;  and  as  soon  as  that  took  place,  they 

should  be  informed.  .     ,     .«^,.!„„ 

The  following  day  was  occupied  by  the  troops  mdestro>ing 
a  town  consisting  of  60  houses,  eight  miles  higher  up  the  riv- 
er, and  in  taking  and  destroying  tlie  boats  ot  the  enemy.  At 
this  place  three  Indians  of  some  distinction  were  kilieU. 

The  term  of  service  of  the  volunteers  having  now  gencraiiy 
expired,  they  maixhed  to  Fort  Stoddart,  in  order  to  be  paid 

""  Soon  after  the  battle  of  Talledcga,  general  Jackson's  army 
Imd  been  almost  entirely  broken  up,  by  the  expiration  of  the 
time  of  the  militia,  but  on  the  Uth  of  January,  he  was  joined 
at  Fort  Strother  by  about  800  new-raised  volunteers  trom  1  en- 
Ticssee,  making  his  whole  force,  exclusive  of  Indians,  930.-- 
The  term  of  service  of  tlie  volunteers  being  short,  and  the 
men  full  of  ardour  to  meet  the  enemy,  he  determined  immedi- 
ately to  employ  tliem  in  active  service;  and  to  this  he  was  par- 
ticularly induced  by  the  information,  that  the  Indians  were  con- 
centrating with  tlie  view  of  attacking  Fort  Armstrong,  a  po- 
sition about  50  miles  above  Fort  Strother,  on  the  same  river, 
and  also  by  his  desire  to  make  a  diversion  in  favour  of  general 
}' loyd,  who  was  about  making  a  movement  to  the  Tallapooscc 
river,  near  its  junction  with  the  Coosee. 

The  volunteers  therefore  were  marched  across  the  river  the 
day  after  their  arrival,  and  on  the  next  day,  Jackson  followed 
with  the  remainder  of  his  force,  consisting  of  tUe  artillery  com- 
pany, with  one  six-pounder,  one  company  oi  miantry  oi  48  men, 
two  companies  of  spies,  of  about  30  men  each,  and  a  company 
of  volunteer  officers,  headed  by  general  Coffee,  who  had  been 
abandoned  by  his  men,  under  some  misapprehension  as  to  their 
term  of  service,  and  who  still  remained  in  the  field  waiting  the 
orders  of  the  government. 

On  the  17th,  the  troops  took  up  the  line  of  march,  and  on 
the  night  of  the  18th  encamped  at  Talledega  Fort,  where  they 
were  joined  by  between  200  and  300  friendly  Indians;  65  ot 
whom  were  Cherokees,  the  remainder  Creeks,  "On  the  20th, 
they  encamped  at  Enotachopco,  a  small  Hillibee  village,  about 
^2  miles  froiT\  Emuckfau.  Here  Jackson  began  to  perceive 
Very  plainly  how  little  knowledge  the  spies  had  of  the  coun* 
.^  -V-^u-  -;^..-,*: —  ^r+u^  «r>pt-.iTT  nr  nf  the  rlistance  the  army 
was  from  them.  The  insubordination  of  the  new  troops,  ancl 
the  want  of  skill  in  most  of  their  officers,  also  became  more 


IIISTOUY    OF  THE   WAK. 


21; 


and  more  apparent.     But  their  ardour  tomccl  the  enemy  was 

R^  aids,  and  the  company  of  ohl,  volunteer  officers,  and  upon 
t'lc  spies,  m  all  about  125.  ^ 

On  the  mormng  of  the  21st,  the  troops  marched  from  Eno- 

.nH  r^":  o'  '\'?^\  '''  P"''''*'^  ^"'^  t'^^  ^^^"^^  "f  the  Tallapoosee, 
and  about  2  oVIock,  P.  M.,  the  spies  having  discovered  two  of 
me  enemy,  endeavoured  to  overtake  them,  but  failed.  In  the 
nTr!'\^  ""  '''^''«<^  trail  was  perceived,  which  led  to  a  new  road, 

nrH V '  r''-n  •  """f  '^^"^'X  ^'-^^'^^''^^l-  Knowing  that  he  must  have 
a  n.d  wit  Inn  the  neighbourhood  of  a  strong  force,  and  it  be- 
ig  late  in  the  day,  Jackson  determined  to  encamp,  and  recon- 
oitre  the  country  in  the  night.  He  accordingly  chose  the 
•icst  scite  the  country  would  admit,  encamped  in  a  hollow 
sfiuarc,  sent  out  spies  and  pickets,  doubled  the  centinels,  and 
l^T'  a\  "^^^^s'^'T  arrangements  before  dark  for  a  night  at- 
flt'  i'u''^  ^°  ''''^''''^  ^^  "^ght  one  of  the  pickets  fired  at 
tines  of  the  enemy,  and  killed  one,  but  he  was  not  found  until 

fUnf^f^^  ^^"  ^^^^'  ^^^^  ^P^^'*  returned  with  the  information, 
of  Jhnnrn'^f  ""  m'^'  encan^pment  of  Indians  at  the  distance 
ot  about  three  miles,  who,  from  their  whooping  and  dancinij, 
seemed  to  be  apprized  of  the  approach  of  thi  troops.  One  of 
inese  spies,  an  Indian  in  whom  Jackson  had  great  confidence, 
f}llT  ^\?  ^  f  ^^^y  "^^'^  carrying  off  their  women  and  chil- 
n  .H  1^  i'^'^^'r'''^^'''"''  ^°"^^  either  make  their  escape 
or  attack  him  before  day.  Being  prepared  at  all  points,  n^ 
thing  remained  to  be  done  but  to  await  their  approach,  if  th-y 
meditated  an  attack,  or  to  be  ready,  if  they  did  not,  to  pursue 
and  attack  them  at  day-light.  ,   ^  pui.me 

While  the  troops  were  in  this  state  of  readiness,  the  enemy 
TZ  1  Vn^\  '"  the  morning,  commenced  a  vigorous  attack 
on  the  left  flank,  which  was  as  vigor6usly  met;  the  action  cor- 

Ik".  J?/''^'^''"  ^^'""^  ^^''^'  ^"'^  o"  the  left  of  the  rear,  fo^ 
about  half  an  hour.  So  soon  as  it  became  light  enough  to 
pursue,  the  left  wing,  having  sustained  the  heat  of  the  action, 
.incl  being  somewhat  weakened,  was  reinforced  by  a  company 
"i^antry,  and  was  ordered  and  led  on  to  the  charL^c  by  geii- 
tral  Loffee,  who  was  well  supported  by  all  the  officers  and 
pnvates  who  composed  that  line.  The  enemy  was  completely 
louted  at  every  point,  and  the  friendly  Indians  iohiing  in  the 
pursuit,  they  were  chased  about  two  miles  with  considerable 
Slaughter. 

^Thc  chase  being  over,  general  Coffee  was  detached  with 
wo. men  and  all  the  Indian  force  to  burn  the  encampment: 
«^ut  with  orders,  ii  it  was  fortified,  not  to  attack  it,  until  tht; 


I 


■Mii 


i 

am 

p 

'if     l''^| 

1'  |H 

— - 

-4:     -1^1 

■■■:-■ 

~fr.^|^;^H 

g^ 

i^l 

216 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


urtillery  could  be  sent  forward  to  reduce  it.     On  yciwing  the 
encampment  and  its  strength,  the  general  thought  it  most  pru- 
dent to  return,  and  guard  the  artillery  thither.     The  wisdom 
of  this  step  was  soon  discovered — in  half  ?n  hour  after  his 
return  to  camp,  a  considerable  force  of  the  enemy  made  its 
appearance  on  Jackson's  right  flank,  and  commenced  a  brisk 
fire  on  a  party  of  men,  who  had  been  on  picket-guard  the  night 
before,  and  were  tl?en  in  search  of  the  Indians  they  had  fired 
upon.      (General  Coffee    immediately  requested  200  men  to 
turn   their  left  tlank,  which  were   accordingly  ordered;  but, 
through  some  mistake,  not  more  than  54  followed  him,  among 
whom  were  tlie  old  volunteer  officers.     With  these,  however, 
he  immediately  commenced  an  attack  on  the  left  flank  of  the 
enemy,  and  Jackson  ordered  200  of  the  friendly  Indians  to  fall 
in  upon  their  right  flank,  and  co-operate  with  general  Coffee. 
This  order  was  promptly  obeyed,  and  what  was  expected  was 
realized.     The  enemy  had  intended  the  attack  on  the  right  as 
u  fehit,  and  expecting  to  direct  all  Jackson's  attention  thither, 
meant  to  attack  him^again,  and  with  their  main  force,  on  the 
left  flank,  which  they  had  hoped  to  find  weakened  and  in  dis- 
order.     But  thev  were  disappointed;  for  Jackson  had  ordered 
the  left  flank  to 'remain  firm  to  its  place,  and  the  moment  the 
alarm-gun  was  heard  in  that  quarter,  he  repaired  thither,  and 
ordered  captain  Ferrill,  part  ox  the  reserve,  to  support  it.  The 
whole  line   met  tlie  approach  of  the  enemy  with   astonishing 
intrepidity,  and  having  given  a  few  fires,  they  forthwith  charged 
with  j»-reat  vigour.     The  effect  was  immediate  and  inevitable. 
The  encmv  fled  with  precipitation,  and  were  pursued  to  a  con- 
siderable distance,  by  the  left  flank  and  the  friendly  Indians, 
uith  a  galling  and  destructive  fire. 

In  the  mean  time  general  Coffee  was  contending  with  a  su- 
perior force  of  tlie  enemy.  The  Indians  who  had  been  order- 
i'd  to  his  support,  and  who  had  set  out  for  this  purpose,  hear- 
ing the  firing  on  the  left,  had  returned  to  that  quarter,  and 
when  the  enemy  were  routed  there,  entered  into  the  chase. 
That  being  now  over,  100  of  them  were  sent  to  the  relief  of 
Coffee,  and  as  soon  as  they  reached  him,  the  charge  was  made 
and  the  cnemv  routed:  they  were  pursued  about  three  miles, 
and  45  of  them  slain,  who  were  found.  General  Coff'ee  was 
wounded  in  the  body,  and  his  aid-de-camp,  A.  Donaldson, 
killed,  together  with  three  others. 

The  camp  was  now  fortified,  in  order  that  the  troops  might 


♦  lip  hrft^v    nrpnavpfl   to   rer 


Del   anv  attack  which  might  be 


made  the   following  night,  and  next  morning  the  troops  set 
out  on  their  return  to  Fort  Strother,  general   Jackson  w.t 


Bisttory  of  the  war. 


2171 


i^ciwing  the 
It  most  pru- 
he  wisdom 
ir  after  his 
ny  made  its 
ced  a  brisk 
rd  the  night 
;y  had  fired 
200  men  to 
•dercd;  but, 
him,  among 
le,  liovvever, 
flank  of  the 
idians  to  fall 
^ral  Coffee, 
xpected  was 
the  right  as 
ktion  thither, 
orce,  on  the 
i  and  in  dis- 
had  ordered 
moment  the 
thither,  and 
(port  it.  The 
astonishing 
ivith  charged 
id  inevitable, 
ued  to  a  con^ 
ndly  Indians, 

ig  with  a  su- 
l  been  order- 


Lirpose, 


hear- 


quarter,  and 
:o  the   chase. 

the  relief  of 
ge  was  made 

three  miles, 
.1  Coffee  Avas 
,.   Donaldson, 

troops  might 

ch  might  be 

he  troops  set 

Jackson  no.t 


deeming  it  prudent  to  proceed  farther  on  account  of  the  scar- 
city of  supplies,  the  number  of  his  wounded,  and  the  probabili- 
ty of  the  Indians  receiving  reinforcements  from  below.     The 
retreat  commenced  at  10  o'clock  on  the  23d,  and 'the  troops 
were  fortunate  enough  to  reach  Enotachopco  before  night, 
having  passed  a  dangerous  defile  without  interruption.     The 
camp  was  again  fortified.     Having  another  defile  to  pass  in 
the  morning,  across  a  deep  creek,  and  between  two  hills,  which 
Jackson  had  viewed  with  attention,  as  he  passed  on,  and  where 
he  expected  he  might  be  attacked,  he  determined  to  pass  it  at 
another  point,  and  gave  directions  to  the  guide  and  fatigue- 
men  accordingly.     The  general's  expectation  of  an  attack  in 
the  morning  was  increased  by  the  signs  of  the  night,  and  with 
it  his  caution.     Before  the  wounded  were  removed  from  the 
interior  of  the  camp,  the  front  and  rear-guards  were  formed, 
as  well  as  the  right  and  left  columns,  and  the  centre  moved 
eff  in  regular  order,  leading  down  a  ridge  to  Enotachopco 
creek,  at  a  point  where  it  was  clear  of  reeds,  except  immedi- 
ately on  its  margin.     A  general  order  had  been  previously 
issued,  pointing  out  the  manner  in  which  the  men  should  be 
formed  in  the  event  of  an  attack  on  the  front,  or  rear,  or  on 
the  flanks,  and  the  officers  had  been  particularly  cautioned  ta 
halt  and  form  accordingly,  the  instant  the  word  should  be 
given. 

The  front  guard  had  crossed  with  part  of  the  flank  columns, 
the  wounded  were  over,  and  the  artillery  in  the  act  of  entering 
the  creek  when  an  alarm-gun  was  heard  in  the  rear.     Having 
chosen  the  ground,  Jackson  expected  there  to  have  entirely 
cut  off  the  enemy,  by  wheeling  the  right  and  left  columns  on 
their  pivot,  re-crossing  the  creek  above  and  below,  and  falling 
in  upon  their  flanks  and  rear.     But,  to  his  astonishment  and 
mortification,  when  the  word  was  given  to  halt  and  form,  and 
a  few  guns  had  been  fired,  the  %ht  and  left  columns  of  the 
rear-guard  precipitately  gave  way.     This  shameful   retreat 
was  disastrous    in  the  extreme:  it  drew  along  with  it  the 
greater  part  of  the  centre  column,  leaving  not  more  than  25  ^ 
men,  who;  being  formed  by  colonel  Carroll  maintained  their  * 
ground  as  long  as  it  was  possible  to  maintain  it.     There  wais 
then  left  to  repulse  the  enemy,  the  few  who  remained  of  the 
rear-guard,  the  artillery  company,  and  captain  Russell's  com- 
pany of  spies.    Their  conduct,  however,  exceeded  the  highest 
expectations.      Lieutenant  Armstrong,  who  commanded  the 
artillery   company  in  the  absence  of  captain  Deadrickv  who 
was  confined  by  sickness,  ordered  them  to  form,  and  advanced 
to  the  top  of  the  hill,  whilst  he  and  a  few  others  dragged  up 

T  2. 


k 


Li 

4  ' 

1:' 


H* 


I«MIH 


•MWMMiAl 


/ 


218 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


the  six-poimder.  Never  was  more  bravery  displayed  than  on 
this  occasion.  Amidst  the  most  galling  fire  from  the  enemy, 
more  than  ten  times  their  number,  they  ascended  the  hill  and 
maintained  their  position,  until  their  piece  was  hauled  up, 
when,  having  levelled  it,  they  poured  upon  the  enemy  a  fire 
of  grape,  re-loaded  and  fired  again,  charged  and  repulsed 
them.* 

A  number  of  the  troops  now  crossed  the  creek,  and  entered 
into  the  chase.  Captain  Gordon  of  the  spies,  who  had  rushed 
from  the  front,  endeavoured  to  turn  ,the  left  flank  of  the  ene- 
my, in  which  he  partially  succeeded,  and  colonel  Carroll, 
colonel  Higgins,  and  captains  Elliot  and  Pipkins,  pursued  the 
enemy  for  more  than  two  miles,  who  fled  in  consternation,^ 
throwing  away  their  packs,  and  leaving  26  of  their  warriors 
dead  on  the  field.  This  last  defeat  was  decisive,  the  troops 
being  no  more  disturbed  in  their  retreat. 

The  loss  sustained  in  these  several  engagements  was  20 
killed  and  1^  wounded,  4  of  whom  afterwards  died.  The 
loss  of  the  enemy  could  not  1;  accurately  ascertained:  189  of 
their  warriors  were  found  dead;  but  this  must  fall  consider^.- 
bly  short  of  the  number  really  killed.  -  Their  wounded  can 
only  be  guessed  at. 

Meanwhile  general  Floyd  was  advancing  towards  the  Indian 
territory  from  Chatahouchie  river.  On  the  27th  of  January 
lii^  camp  was  attacked  by  a  large  body  of  Indians,  at  the  hour 
usually  chosen  for  their  operations,  viz.  about  an  hour  before 
day.  They  stole  upon  the  centinels,  fired  upon  them,  and 
then  with  great  impetuosity  rushed  upon  the  line.     In  20 


*  General  Jackson^  in  his  official  rejiort,  states  some  instances 
of  fierliafis  the  jnost  deliberate  bravery  that  have  ever  been  re- 
corded.  The  individuals  mentioned  luere  lieutenant  jirmstrong; 
Constaniine  Perkivj.,  and  Craven  Jackson^  all  of  the  artillcryy 
the  two  latter  acting  as  gunners.     In  the  hun^y  of  the  moment ^ 
in  separating  the  gun  from^the  limbers.,  the  rammer  and  flicker 
of  the  cannon  were  lift   tied  to  the  limber:  no  sooner  was  this 
discovered.,  than  Jackson.,  aftiidst  the  galling  fire  of  the  enemy, 
Jiulled  out   the  ramrod  of  his  musket  and  used  it  as  a  flicker; 
firimcd  with  a  cartridge,  and  fired  the  cannon.     Perkins  having 
fiulltd  off  his  bayonet,  used  his  musket  as  a  rammer,  and  drove 
down  the  cartridge;  and  Jacksoti,  using  his  former  filan,  again 
discharged  her.      Lieutenant  Armstrong  fell,  just  after  the 
first  Jire  of  the  cannon,  exclaiming,  as  he  lay,  "  my  brave  f el" 
lows,  some  of  you  may  fall,  but  you  must  save  the  cannon  " 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


219 


minutes  the  action  became  general,  and  the  front  of  both  flanks 
were  closely  pressed,  but  the  gallant  conduct  of  the  officers 
and  the  firmness  of  the  men,  repelled  them  at  every  point  Is 
soon  as  It  became  light  enough  to  distinguish  objects,  Floyd 
strenghthened  his  right  wing  to  prepare^hem  for  a  charee 
and  the  cavalry  was  ordered  to  firm  in  their  rear,  to  act  aJ 
circumstances  should  dictate.     The  order  for  the  charge  was 

fheTaCne't  ^^Th'  '"V''  '""'V  ^'"^  ''"^  ^^^^'^  directionl^efor: 
the  bayonet.  The  order  was  then  given  for  the  change  of  the 
cavalry,  who  pursued  and  sabred  fifteen  of  the  encmy^ 

Ihirty-seven  Indians  were  left  dead  on  the  field.  From 
the  effusion  of  blood,  and  number  of  the  war-clybs  and  helZ 
dresses  found  in  various  directions,  their  loss  must  have  been 
consKlerable      Floyd's  loss  was  17  killed,  and  132  womuled 

The  Creeks  bemg  rather  inspirited  than  cast  down  by  their 
last  encounters  with  the  whites,  more  vigorous  efforts  became 
necessary.  General  Xackson,  therefore,  having  received'^,! 
forcements  of  m  litia  from  Tennessee,  and  being  oined  by 
a  considerable  body  of  Cherokee  and  fendly  Creek  Indians 
set  out  on  another  expedition  to  the  Tallapoosec   river      He 

ot  the  24th  of  March,  and  havmg  a  passage  of  fifty-two  and 
a  half  miles  over  the  ridges  which  divide  the  waters  of  the 
two  rivers,  reached  the  bend  of  the  Tallapoosee,  three  miles 
beyond  where  the  engagement  of  the  22d  of  January  took 
place,  and  at  the  southern  extremity  of  New  Youca  on  the 
morning  of  the  27th.  ^  '  °"  ^"*^ 

This  bend  resembles  in  its  curvature  that  of  a  horse-shoe 
and  IS  thence  called  by  that  name  among  the  whites.    Na    ,^' 
furnishes  f<iw  situations  as  eligible  for  defence;  and  barbarians 
never  rendered  one  more  secure  by  art,  than  was  this  by  'he 
Creeks      Across  the  neck  of  land  which  leads  into  it  from  the 
north,  they  had  erected  a  breastwork,  of  the  greatest  coZact 
ness  and  strength,  fiom  five  to  eight  feet  high,  and  prSed 
mth  double  rows  of  port-holes  veiy  artfully  arranged^^he 
■igure  of  this  wall  manifested  no  less  skill  in  the  projectors  of 
It,  than  its  construction;  an  army  could  not  approach  it  with' 
oiit  being  exposed  to  a  doubl^and  cross  fire  ft-om  the  enlmy, 
who  lay  in  perfect  security  behind  it.     The  area  of  this  oenin 
sul^,  thus  bounded  by  breastworks,  included  about  80  or  lOQ 

In  this  bend  the  warriors  from  Oakfuskee,  Oakchaya,  New 
Vouca,  Hillabees.the  Fish  Ponrl«.  «nH  F.,fo.,L  ...^.^y  l^. 


ed  oUackson's  appix>aGh,  had  collected  thSr^trengSl  Thdr 
txact  number  was  not  ascertained;  but  it  was  believed  to  have 


«S«"— ****~ 


220 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


been  about  1000:  and  relying  with  the  utmost  confidence  up- 
on their  strength,  their  situation,  and  the  assurances  of  their 
prophets,  they  calculated  on  repulsing  Jackson  with  great 
ease. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  27th,  having  encamped  the  pre- 
ceding night  at  the  distance  of  six  miles  from  the  bend,  Jack- 
son detached  general  Coffee  with  the  mounted  men  and  near- 
ly the  whole  of  the  Indian  force,  to  pass  the  river  at  a  ford 
about  three  miles  below  their  encampment,  and  to  surround 
the  bend  in  such  a  manner  that  none  of  them  should  escape  by 
attempting  to  cross  the  river.  With  the  remainder  of  the 
forces  Jackson  proceeded  along  the  point  of  land,  which  led 
to  the  front  of  their  breastwork;  and  at  half  past  10  o'clock, 
planted  his  artillery  on  a  small  eminence,  distant  from  the  near- 
est point  of  the  breastwork  about  80  yards,  and  from  its  farth- 
est about  250;  from  which  a  brisk  fire  v  as^immediately  opened 
upon  its  centre.  Whenever  the  enei.iy  showed  themselves 
behind  their  works,  or  ventured  to  approach  them,  a  galling 
fire  was  opened  upon  them  with  m.usqetry  and  rifles. 

Meal  while  general  Coftec,  having  crossed  below,  turned  up 
the  river,  bearing  away  from  its  cliffs.  When  within  half  a 
mile  of  the  village,  which  stood  at  the  extremity  of  the  penin- 
sula, the  savage  yell  was  raised  by  the  enemy.  ^  Expecting  an 
immediate  attack.  Coffee  drew  up  his  forces  in  line  of  battle, 
in  open  hilly  woodland,  and  noved  forward  in  that  position. 
The  friendly  Indians  had  been  previously  ordered  to  ac'vance 
secretly  and  take  possession  of  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  pre- 
vent the  enemy  from  crossing  on  the  approach  of  Jackson's 
main  body  in  front.  Accordingly,  the  fire  of  Jackson's  cannon 
commencing  when  Coffee's  troops  were  within  about  a  quar- 
ter of  a  mile  from  the  river,  his  Indians  immediately  rushed 
forward  with  great  impetuosity  to  its  banks.  The  militia  were 
halted,  and  kept  in  order  of  battle,  an  attack  on  the  rear  being 
expected  from  the  Oakfuskee  villages,  which  lay  on  the  river 
about  eight  miles  below. 

The  fire  of  the  cannon  and  small  arms  beconiing  now  gene- 
ral and  heavy  in  front,  animated  the  Indians  on  the  bank;  and 
seeing  about  100  of  the  warriors,  and  all  the  squaws  and  chil- 
dren of  the  enemy  running  about  among  the  huts  of  the  vil- 
lage on  the  opposite  shore,  they  could  no  longer  remain  si- 
lent spectators'.  While  some  kept  up  a  fire  across  the  river 
(here  about  120  yards  wide),  to  |H"event  the  enemy's  approach 
to  the  bank,  others  plunged  into  the  river  and  swam  across  for 
canoes,  that  lay  on  the  other  side  in  considerable  numbers.— 
Haying  succeeded  in  bringing  them  over,  numbers  emharkexlt 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


221 


:onfidence  up- 
•ances  of  their 
m  with  great 

mped  the  pre- 
le  bend,  Jack- 
men  and  near- 
river  at  a  ford 
d  to  surround 
)uld  escape  by 
lainder  of  the 
nd,  which  led 
LSt  10  o'clock, 
from  the  near- 
from  its  farth- 
diately  opened 
;d  themselves 
lem,  a  galling 
ifles. 

low,  turned  up 
within  half  a 
J  of  the  penin- 
Expecting  an 
I  line  of  battle, 
that  position, 
i'ed  to  ac'vance 
river,  and  pre- 

of  Jackson's 
;kson's  cannon 

about  a  quar- 
iiately  rushed 
le  militia  were 
the  rear  being 
ly  on  the  river 

ing  now  gene- 
the  bank;  and 
uaws  and  chil- 
tits  of  the  vil- 
ger  remain  si- 
cross  the  river 
my's  approach 
A^am  across  for 
»le  numbers.— 
)ers  emharkedt 


and  landing  in  the  peninsula,  advanced  into  the  village,  and 
sv)6on  drove  the  enemy  from  the  huts  up  to  the  fortification, 
where  they  pursued  and  continued  to  annoy  them  during  the 
whole  action. 

This  movement  of  the  friendly  Indians  leaving  the  river 
bank  unguarded,  made  it  necessary  that  a  part  of  Coffee's  line 
should  take  their  place.  A  company  of  rangers  were  accord- 
ingly posted  on  the  bank  of  the  upper  part,  and  a  lieutenant 
with  40  men  took  possession  of  an  island  in  the  lower  part  of 
the  bend. 

Finding  that  the  friendly  Indians,  notwithstanding  the  deter- 
mined bravery  they  displayed,  were  wholly  insufBcient  to  dis- 
lodge the  enemy,  and  that  general  Coffee  had  secured  the  op- 
posite banks  of  the  river,  Jackson  determined  upon  taking  pos- 
session of  the  works  by  storm.  Never  were  men  better  dis- 
posed for  such  an  undertaking,  than  those  by  whom  it  was  to 
be  effected.  They  had  entreated  to  be  led  to  the  charge  with 
the  most  pressing  importunity;  and  received  the  order  which 
was  now  given  with  the  strongest  demonstration  of  joy.  The 
effect  was  such  as  this  temper  of  mind  foretold.  The  regu- 
lar troops,  led  by  "colonel  Williams  and  major  Montgomery, 
w^re  presently  in  possession  of  the  nearer  side  of  the  breast- 
work; and  the  militia  accompanied  them  in  the  charge  with 
a  vivacity  and  firmness  which  could  not  have  been  exceeded, 
and  have  seldom  been  equalled  by  troops  of  any  description. 

Having  maintained  for  a  few  minutes  a  very  obstinate  con- 
test, muzzle  to  muzzle,  th  ough  the  port-holes,  in  which  ma- 
ny of  the  enemy's  balls  were  welded  to  the  American  bayo- 
nets, they  succeeded  in  gaining  possession  of  the  opposite 
side  of  the  works.  The  event  could  then  no  longer  be  doubt- 
ful; the  enemy,  although  many  of  them  fought  to  the  last  with 
that  kind  of  ba'avery  which  desperation  inspires,  were  routed 
and  cut  to  pieces.  The  whole  margin  of  the  river  which  sur- 
rounded the  peninsula,  was  strewed  with  the  slain:  557  were 
found,  besides  a  great  number  who  were  thrown  in  the  river 
by  their  surviving  friends,  and  killed  in  attempting  to  pass  it, 
by  general  Coffee's  men,  stationed  on  the  opposite  banks.  Not 
more  than  20  could  have  escaped.  Among  the  dead  was 
found  their  famous  prophet  Manahoee,  shot  in  the  mouth  by  a 
grapeshot,  and  two  other  prophets.  Two  or  three  women  and 
children  were  killed  by  accident.  The  number  of  prisoners 
taken  exceeded  3Cfo,  all  women  and  children  excepting  three 
or  four.  . 

The  b^tle  may  be  said  to  have  continued  with  severity  fqr 
about  fiv^hours;  but  the  firing  and  the  slaughter  continued 


% 


*-mt»>mimm»tmmm» 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


until  it  was  suspended  by  the  darkness  of  the  night.  The 
next  moring  it  was  resumed,  and  16  of  the  enemy  slain,  who 
had  concealed  themselves  under  the  banks. 

Jackson's  loss  was  26  white  men  killed,  and  107  wounded; 
18  Cherokees  killed,  and  36  wounded;  5  friendly  Creeks  kill- 
ed, and  1 1  wounded. 

This  most  dccisivr  battle  completely  broke  the  spirit  as  well 
as  power  of  the  hostile  Creeks,  who  were  never  after  able  to 
make  head  against  the  troops  of  the  United  States.  Jackson 
shortly  after  co  ■  iy  scoured  the  Coosec  and  Tullapoosec 
rivers,  and  the  i-  ^ning  country.  A  part  of  the  enemj  on 
the  latter  river,  jusc  before  his  arrival,  made  their  escape  across 
It,  and  fled  in  consternation  towards  Pensacola.  Most  of  the 
inhabitants  on  the  Coosee  and  the  neighbouring  country  came 
in,  and  surrendered  unconditionally.  Many  of  the  negroes 
taken  at  Fort  Minis  were  delivered  up,  and  one  white  woman, 
with  her  two  children. 

A  detachment  of  militia  from  North  and  South  Carolina, 
under  the  command  of  colonel  Pearson,  scoured  the  country 
below,  upon  the  Alibama,  took  a  number  of  prisoners,  and  re- 
ceived the  submission  of  a  great  number  of  Creek  warriors 
and  prophets.  On  the  return  of  Pearson's  expedition^  he  had 
with  him  upwards  of  600  of  the  late  hostile  Creeks,  and  near- 
ly all  the  remaining  negroes  that  had  been  captured  at  Fort 
Mims. 

On  the  1st  of  August,  the  principal  chiefs  of  the  hostile 
Creeks  met  general  Jackson  at  the  fort  called  by  his  name,  for 
the  purpose  of  concluding  articles  of  agreement  and  capitu- 
lation, which  were  agreed  upon  the  9th  of  the  same  month. 
By  this  treaty  a  la.  ge  and  valuable  portion  of  their  territory 
was  ceded  to  the  United  States,  as  an  equivalent  for  the  ex- 
penses incurred  in  prosecuting  the  war,  and  the  right  of  the 
United  States  to  establish  military  posts  and  trading-houses, 
and  to  open  roads  within  their  territory,  was  acknowledged^ 
as  also  the  right  to  the  free  navigation  of  all  their  waters.  The 
Creeks  also  engaged  to  make  an  immediate  surrender  of  all 
the  persons  and  property  taken  from  the  citizens  of  the  Uidt- 
,  ed  States,  the  friendly  part  of  the  Creek  nation,  the  Cherokee, 
•Chickasaw,  and  Choctaw  nations,  to  the  respective  owners; 
and  to  surrender  all  the  prophets  and  instigators  of  the  war, 
whether  foreigners  or  natives,  who  had  not  submitted  to  the 
arms  of  the  United  States,  and  become  parties  to  these  arti- 
cles, if  ever  they  fihould  be  found  within  the  territory  of  the 
Creeks.  It  was  also  stipulated,  that  the  Creeks  should  aban- 
don, all  communication,  and  cease  to  hold  anv  intcrc  ursc  with 


night.  The 
y  slain,  who 

V 

37  wounded; 
Creeks  kill- 
spirit  as  well 
alter  able  to 
!s.  Jackson 
Tallapoosec 
e  enemj  on 
scape  across 
Most  of  the 
ountry  came 
the  negroes 
hitc  woman, 

• 

th  Carolina, 
the  country 
lers,  and  re- 
ek warriors 
tion^  he  had 
:s,  and  near- 
ired  at  Fort 

the  hostile 
is  name,  for 

and  capitu- 
iame  month, 
nr  territory 

for  the  ex- 
•ight  of  the 
ling-houses, 
inowledged, 
■vaters.  The 
?nder  of  all 
of  the  Uhit- 
E  Cherokee, 
ive  owners; 
of  the  war, 
litted  to  the 
0  these  arti- 

hould  aban- 
Xourse  with 


IICSTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


223 


^ny  British  or  Spanish  post,  garrison,  or  town;  and  that  they 
Should  not  admit  among  them  any  agent  or  trader,  who  should 
not  derive  authority  to  hold  commercial  or  other  intercourse 
with  them,  by  license  from  the  president  or  authorised  agent 
ot  the  United  States.  The  United  States  engaged  to  guaran- 
tee the  remainder  of  their  territory,  and  to  restore  all  their  pri- 
soners; and,  in  consideration  of  the  nation  being  reduced  to 
extreme  want,  and  not  having  at  present  the  means  of  sub- 
sistance,  the  United  States  engaged,  frommotives  of  human- 
ity, to  continue  to  furnish  them  gratuitously  with  the  neces- 
saries  ot  life,  until  the  crops  of  com  could  be  considered  com- 
petent to  yield  the  nation  a  supply;  and  to  establish  trading- 
houses,  to  enable  the  nation  by  industry  and  economy  to  nro-- 
cure  clothing.  /       P»" 

Thus  ended  the  Creek  war,  after  a  prodigious  slanghter  of 
those  brave,  misguided  men,  and  the  unconditional' submis- 
sion ot  the  remainder,  excepting  a  few  who  took  refuge  in 
ilorida.  Nearly  the  whole  of  the  Creek  towns  were  de- 
stroycd. 

But  hardly  was  the  Indian  war  at  an  end,  before  new  trou- 
bles sprang  up  in  this  quarter,  and  general  Jackson  was  forced 
to  encounter  a  much  more  formidable  enemy.  After  conclud- 
ing the  treaty  with  tlie  Creeks,  Jackson  moved  his  head-quar- 
ters  to  Mobile,  where,  on  the  27th  of  August,  he  received  in- 
tormation  by  express,  from  Pensacola,  that  three  British  ves- 
sels had  arrived  there  on  the  25th,  which,  on  the  iollowing  dav, 
had  disembarked  an  immense  quantity  of  arms  ammunition, 
niunitions.of  war,  and  provisions;  and  marched  into  the  Span- 
ish fort  l)etween  two  and  three  hundred  troops.  He  was  like- 
wise informed  that  thirteen  sail  of  the  line,  with  a  large  num- 
ber of  transports,  bringing  10,000  troops,  were  daily  expected. 

On  the  rcccjptof  this  information,  Jackson  immediately  dis- 
patched an  express  to  the  governor  of  Tennessee  at  Nashville, 
requesting  that  the  wliole  of  the  quota  of  the  militia  of  that 
state  should  be  organized,  equipped,  and  brought  into  the 
tield,  without  delay,  and  his  adjutant-general,  then  in  Tennes- 
see, was  instructed  to  make  the  necessary  arrangements  for 
immediately  provisioning  and  bringing  the  troops  to  head- 
quarters. 

The  three  vessels  which  had  arrived  at  Pensacola,  joined  by 
another,  soon  after  sailed  from  that  port  for  Mobile,  and  on  the 
15th  of  September  appeared  off  Fort  Bowyer,  The  town  of 
Mobile,  where  general  Jackson  had  his  head-nuarters,  is  situ- 
ated on  the  west  side  of  the  Mobile  river,  at  fts  entrance Ynt'o 
the  bay  of  the  same  name.  MoUle  bay  is  about  30  miles  long,\ 


1    '" 


I 


224 


HISTORY  OF  THt  WAH. 


and  of  considerable  breadth;  but  its  entrance  is  only  five  miles 
broad,  and  is  completely  commanded  by  Fort  Bowyer,  which 
is  situated  at  the  extreme  point  on  the  eust  side  of  the  bay.— 
The  fort  was  occupied  by  a  small  garrison,  commanded  by 
major  Lawrence,  of  the  2d  infantry. 

The  British  squadron,  consisting  of  two  ships  and  two  brigs, 
appeared  in  sight  about  noon  of  the  I5th,  standing  directly  for 
the  fort.  At  4,  in  the  afternoon,  the  battery  was  oppened  upon 
them;  the  firing  was  immediately  returned  from  all  the  vessels. 
A  force  of  110  marines,  commanded  by  colonel  Nicholls,  200 
Creek  Indians,  headed  by  captain  Woodbine,  of  the  British 
navy,  and  about  20  artillerists,  had  been  previously  landed  in 
the  rear  of  the  fort,  and  opened  a  fire  upon  it  from  a  twelve- 
pounder  and  a  howitzer,  but  they  did  no  execution,  and  were 
soon  silenced  by  a  few  shot.  The  action  continued  without  in- 
termission on  either  side  for  nearly  three  hours,  when  three  of 
the  vessels  were  compelled  to  retire.  The  commodore's  ship, 
which  mounted  22  thirty-two*pound  carronades,  having  an- 
chored nearest  the  fort,  had  her  cable  cut  by  the  shot)  and  was 
so  much  disabled  that  she  drifted  on  shore,  within  6Q0  yards  of 
the  battery;  when  the  other  vessels  being  out  of  reach,  such  a 
tremendous  fire  was  opened  upon  her,  that  she  was  set  on  fire 
and  abandoned  by  such  of  her  crew  as  survived.  Out  of  a  crew 
of  170  men,  the  commander  and  20  men  only  escaped.  On 
board  of  the  other  ship,  85  were  killed  and  wounded;  one  of 
the  brigs  also  was  very  considerably  damaged;  but  her  loss 
was  not  ascertained.  The  effective  force  in  the  fort  was  about 
120  men;  their  loss  was  only  four  killed  and  five  wounded.— 
During  the  hottest  part  of  the  action,  the  flag-staff  being  shot 
away,  the  flag  was  immediately  regained  under  a  heavy  fire  of 
grape  and  cannister,  hoisted  on  a  sponge  staff,  and  planted  on 
the  parapet.  The  land-forces  retreated  by  land  to  Pensacola, 
after  having  re-embarked  their  pieces. 

A  short  time  previous  to  this  attack,  a  proclamation  was  is* 
sued  by  Edward  Nichols,  commanding  his  Britannic  majesty's 
forces  in  the  Floridas,  and  dated  head-quarters,  Pensacola,  ad- 
dressed to  the  inhabitants  of  Louisiana,  Kentucky,  and  Tennes« 
see.  In  this  address  the  natives  of  Louisiana  are  called  upon 
to  assist  the  British  forces  in  liberating  their  paternal  soil 
from  a  fruitless,  imbecile  government;  to  abolish  the  Ameri- 
can usurpation,  and  put  the  lawful  owners  of  the  soil  in  pos- 
session.   The  inhabitants  of  Keiitucky  and  Tennessee  are  told 

♦l-»o*  fliATT  liovp  tnn  Inno"    linrnft    with   c)riMf>vn>i«  imnnsifinnsr  that 

the  brunt  of  the  war  has  fallen  on  their  brave  sons;  and  they 
ai*e  intreated  to  be  imposed  on  no  more,  but  either  to  range 


iribTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


225 


yr  five  miles 

yer,  which 

the  bay. — 

imanded  by 

I  two  brigs, 
directly  for 
pened  upon 
the  vessels, 
cholls,  200 
the  British 
y  landed  in 
n  a  twelve- 
1,  and  were 

without  in- 
len  three  of 
dore's  ship, 
having  an- 
lot)  and  was 
)Q0  yards  of 
ach,  such  a 
)  set  on  fire 
it  of  a  crew 
caped.  On 
led;  one  of 
lit  her  loss 
t  was  about 
wounded. — 

being  shot 
eavy  fire  of 
I  planted  on 

Pensacola, 

tion  was  is- 
ic  majesty's 
nsacola,  ad- 
ind  Tennes- 
called  upon 
)aternal  soil 
the  Ameri- 
soil  in  pos- 
see  are  told 
sitions;  that 
s;  and  they 
ler  to  range 


llicmselvei  under  the  standard  of  their  forefathers,  br  observe 
a  strict  neutrality.  If  they  complied  with  either  of  these  of- 
lers,  the  address  assured  them,  that  whatever  provisions  they 
sent  down  should  be  paid  for  in  dollars,  and  the  safety  of  the 
persons  bringing  it,  as  well  as  the  free  navigation  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, guaranteed. 

The  proclamation  then  calls  to  the  view  of  the  «  men  of  Ken- 
tucky the  conduct  of  those  factions  which  hurried  them  into 
this  cruel,  unjust,  and  unnatural  war,  at  a  time  when  Great 
Britain  was  straining  every  nerve  in  defence  of  her  own  and 
the  liberties  of  the  world;  when  she  was  expending  millions 
ot  her  treasure  in  endeavouring  to  pull  down  one  of  the  most 
lormidable   and  dangerous   tyrants  that    ever  disgraced  the 
torm  of  man.     When  groaning  Europe  was  in  her  last  gasp, 
when  Britons  alone  showed  an  undaunted  front,  basely  did 
these  assassins  endeavour  to  stab  her' from  the  rear;  she  has 
turned  on  them  renovated  from  the  bloody  but  successful  struff- 
gle.      Europe  is  happy  and  free,  and  she  now  hastens  justly 
to  avenge  the  unprovoked  insult.     Shew  th-m,"  continued 
iMchols,   «  that    you  are  not  collectively  unjust—leave  that 
contemptible  few  to  shift  for  themselves;  let  those  slaves  of 
the  tyrant  send  an  embassy  to  Elba,  and  implore  his  aid;  but 
let  every  honest,  upright  American  spurn  them  with  merited 
contempt.      After  the  experience  of   21  years,  can  you  anv 
longer  support  those  brawlers  of  liberty,  who  call  it  freedom, 
when  themselves  are  no  more  free  than  their  impostors?  Be 
no  longer  their  dupes,  accept  my  offers,  and  all  that  is  promised 
you  in  the  proclamation,  I  guarantee  to  you,  on  the  sacred  word 
ot  a  British  officer." 

A  greater  degree  of  ignorance  of  the  nature  of  the  people 
addressed,  was  perhaps  never  displayed,  than  was  manifested 
m  this  proclamation.  Nichols  himself  was  enabled  to  take  a 
pretty  favourable  view  of  its  reception  a  few  days  after  it  was 
issued,  as  he  headed  the  land  forces  employed  against  Fort 
Bowyer.  *     .'         o 

Previous  to  the  attack  upon  Mobile,  Nichols  had  held  out 
the  most  seducmg  offers  to  induce  a  band  of  lawless  men,  who 
had  formed  an  establishment  on  the  island  of  Bari-ataria,  to 
enter  into  the  British  service  in  the  operations  planned  against 
Lower  Louisiana.  But  although  these  men  were  actina.-  in 
the  most  lawless  manner,  and  though  they  were  actually  pro- 
scribed by  the  American  government,  they  would  not  consent 
to  act  tae  part  of  traitors.  Instead  of  accepting  the  British 
o.iers,  they  procrastiiiated  their  answer,  and  immediately  dis- 
patched the  intelligence  to  New-Orlean?*. 

.    U  ' 


I 


1326 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


The  Barratarians  principally  consisted  of  the  officers  and 
crews  of  French  privateers,  who,  on  the  capture  of  Guada* 
loupe,  the  last  of  the  French  West-India  islands,  had  repaired 
to  Caithagena,  and  accepted  commissions  from  the  new  govern- 
ment /hich  had  been  established  there.  For  the  convenience 
of  disposing  of  their  prizes,  these  men  resorted  to  Barrataria, 
and  formed  establishments  in  the  island  of  Grand  Terre,  and 
other  places  along  the  coast  of  Louisiana  to  the  west  of  the 
Mississippi,  whence,  it  is  said,  they  preyed  indiscriminately 
upon  the  commerce  of  all  nations,  not  excepting  even  that  of 
the  United  States,  in  whose  dominions  they  had  thus  unwar- 
rantably settled  themselves.  The  chief  mtercourse  of  the  Bar- 
ratarians was  with  New-Orleans,  almost  all  their  prize  goods 
being  smuggled  into  that  port. 

In  the  year  1813,  this  lawless  colony  excited  the  attention 
of  the  government  of  Louisiana,  and  a  company  was  ordered 
out  to  break  up  the  establishment.  But  this  small  force  proved 
quite  ineffectual:  the  w  hole  party  were  surprised  and  captured 
before  they  ner.'rhed  the  settlements  of  this  resolute  set  of  men. 
The  naval  force  however,  being  considerably  strengthened  in 
the  summer  of  1814,  a  new  expedition  was  fitted  out.  On 
the  1 1th  of  September,  commodore  Patterson  left  New-Or- 
leans, with  a  detachment  of  70  of  the  44th  regiment  of  infan- 
try, commanded  by  colonel  Ross,  and  being  joined  by  the 
schooner  Caroline  at  Placquemine,  and  the  gun-boats  at  the 
Balize,  on  the  morning  of  the  1 6th  made  the  island  of  Barra- 
taria, and  discovered  a  num.ber  of  vessels  in  the  harbour, 
some  of  which  shewed  Carthagenian  colours.  As  soon  as 
the  squadron  was  perceived,  the  Barratarians  formed  their 
vessels,  ten  in  number,  into  a  line  of  battle  near  the  entrance 
of  the  harbour;  end  Patterson  also  formed  his  vessels  into  a 
line  of  battle,  consisting  of  six  gun-boats,  a  tender,  and  a  launch; 
the  schooner  CaroHne  drawing  too  much  water  to  cross  the 
bar.  On  the  approach  of  the  squadron,  however,  the  Barra- 
tarians abandoned  their  vessels,  and  took  to  flight  in  all  direc- 
tions in  their  small  boats,  having  previously  fired  two  of  their 
best  schooners.  The  launch,  with  two  gun-barges  and  the 
small  boats,  were  immediately  sent  in  pursuit,  and  all  the  ves- 
sels in  the  harbour  were  taken  possession  of,  and  the  establish- 
iDcnt  on  chore  completely  destroyed. 

The  unprecedented  conduct  of  the  governor  of  Pensacola, 
in  harbouring  and  aiding  the  British  and  their  Indian  allies, 
and  in  alloning  them  to  fit  out  expeditions  against  the  United 
States  from  that  port,  had  been  forcibly  remonstated  against 
by  general  .Tackson,  but  hitherto  without  effect.     Having  been 


HISTORY    OF  THE  WAR. 


227 


icers  and 
if  Guacla- 
re  paired 
,v  govern- 
iveniencc 
iarrataria, 
crre,  and 
?st  of  the 
iniinately 
m  that  of 
IS  unwar- 
f  ihe  Bar- 
ize  goods 

attention 
i  ordered 
ce  proved 
captured 
etof  men. 
;thened  in 
out.  On 
New-Or- 
;  of  infan- 
;d  by  the 
ats  at  the 
of  Barra- 
;  harbour, 
s  soon  as 
■ned  their 
i  entrance 
els  into  a 

I  a  launch; 
cross  the 
Lhe  Barra- 

all  direc- 
o  of  their 
s  and  the 

II  the  ves- 
establish- 

Pcnsacola, 
lian  allies, 
he  United 
;d  against 
Lving  been 


reinforced  by  about  2000  Tennessee  militia,  wliich  had  marched 
to  Mobile  through  the  Indian  country,  Jackson,  therefore,  ad- 
vanced towards  Pensacola  to  demand  redress.  He  reached 
tlic  neighi)ourhood  of  that  post  on  the  afternoon  of  the  6th  of 
>lovember,  and  immediately  sent  a  flag  to  communicate  the 
oDject  of  his  visit  to  the  governor;  but  it  was  forced  to  return, 
being  fired  on  from  the  batteries.  Jackson  then  reconnoitercd 
the  fort,  and  finding  it  defended  by  botR  English  and  Spanish 
troops,  determined  to  storm  the  town,  and  accordingly  made 
CMC  necessary  arrangements  for  carrying  his  determination  into 
eftect  the  next  day. 

The  troops  were  put  in  motion  for  the  attack  early  on  the  7th 
Being  encamped  to  the  west  of  the  town,  Jackson  calculated 
that  the  attack  would  be  expected  from  that  quarter.  To 
cherish  this  idea,  part  of  the  mounted  men  were  sent  to  show 
themselves  on  the  west,  while  the  remainder  of  the  troops 
passed  in  the  rear  of  the  fort,  undiscovered,  to  the  east  of  the 
town.  When  at  the  distance  of  a  mile,  the  town  appeared  in 
uU  view.  The  troops,  principally  militia,  with  a  few  rcLni- 
lars,  and  some  Choctaw  Indians,  advanced  with  the  most  un- 
daunted courage,  although  a  strong  fort  appeared  ready  to  as- 
sail  them  on  the  right,  seven  British  armed  vessels  on  ihe  left, 
and  strong  block-houses  and  batteries  of  cannon  in  front  On 
entermg  the  town,  a  battery  of  two  cannon  was  opened  on  the 
centre  column,  composed  of  the  regulars,  with  ball  and  grape, 
and  a  shower  of  musquetry  from  the  houses  and  gardens  The 
bat  ery  was  immedialely  stormed,  and  the  musquetJy  was 
soon  silenced  by  the  steady  and  well-directed  fire  of  the  reeu- 
lars.  ^'-^b" 

The  governor  now  made  his  appearance  with  a  flag,  and 
-  begged  for  mercy,  offering  to  surrender  the  town  and  fort  un- 

the  /JTen^-    ?^r^^  ^^^   ^^'^"^^^'  ^"d  P'-otection  gYven  to 
W  T.  TV  f  '  'T  P'^P'^'y'  ^^'^'°"i?h  the  officer  command 
mg  the  fort  refused  to  give  it  ur>,  and  held  it  till  near  mid- 
night, when  he  evacuated  it^  with  his  troops.     The  Brk     i 
moved  down  to  the   Barrancas,  a  strong  fort  commanding  th. 
harbour,  and,  finding  that  Jackson  had  gaineclTsseS  of 
the  town,  next  morning  spiked  and  dism^oumedTe  c^on 
and  blew  up  the  fort,  just  as  the  American  troops  we' eTc 
parmg  to  march  and  storm  the  place  ^    ^^elc  pic- 

T.P^  ^t'^^  ^^^"  withdre;v  to  their  shipping,  and  ^eneml 
Jackson,  havmg  accomplished  his  object,  evacuated  thf to'n 
and  returned  to  the  American  dominion.  '^'' 

cJaI  ^^""FJ^  impending  over  New  Orleans,  from  the  threat^ 
oned  expedition  of  the  British,  now  rendered  the  presence  of 


I 


k 


fi 


S28 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


general  Jackson  highly  necessary  at  that  city.  He  arrivcil 
there  with  his  troops  on  the  2tl  of  December,  and  immediate 
measures  of  defence  were  adopted,  by  embodying  the  militia, 
repairing  the  forts  on  the  river,  Sec. 

A  few  days  after  Jackson's  arrival,  the  British  fleet  made 
their  appearance  in  the  Bay  of  St.  Louis,  and  on  the  12th,  the 
fleet  appeared  in  such  strength  off*  Ship  island,  as  to  induce 
lieutenant  Jones,  who  commanded  the  American  flotilla  of 
gun-boats,  to  retire  higher  up  the  lake,  to  take  a  position  to 
defend  the  passes  to  New  Orleans.  On  the  13th,  the  Ameri- 
can schooiu  r  Seahorse,  which  had  been  sent  by  the  commo- 
dore that  morning  to  the  Bay  of  St.  Louis,  to  assist  in  the  re- 
moval of  some  public  stores,  was  attacked  by  three  of  the 
enemy's  barges.  These  were  driven  off,  but  being  reinforced 
by  four  others,  tlie  schooner  was  blown  up  by  her  crew,  and 
the  store-house  sent  on  fire.  On  the  following  day,  the  Ame- 
rican Ilotilb  wliile  becalmed,  was  attacked  by  42  heavy  laun- 
ches and  gun-barges,  manned  with  1000  men  and  officers,  and 
after  a  vigorQus  resistance,  for  upwards  of  an  hour,  against 
this  overwhelming  force,  the  whole  flotilla  was  captured  by 
the  enemy. 

The  news  of  the  arrival  of  the  British  squadron  in  these 
waters  reached  New  Orleans  on  the  12th  of  December,  and 
in  a  day  or  two  after,  martial  law  was  proclaimed  in  the  city, 
and  the  militia  called  out  en  masse.  Large  appropriations 
were  made  by  the  legislature  of  Louisiana  for  the  erection  of 
batteries,  and  granting  bounties  to  seamen  to  enlist  in  the  ser- 
vice; an  embargo  was  laid  for  three  days  in  order  to  stop  the 
departure  of  those  individuals;  and  a  requisition  was  made  by 
general  Jackson  of  negroes  to  work  on  the  fortifications,  and 
all  those  found  in  the  streets  were  impressed  for  that  purpose, 
as  well  as  all  kinds  of  drays  and  carts.  Four  thousand  Ten- 
nessee militia  arrived  by  water  on  the  21st,  and  Jackson  was 
further  reinforced  by  the  Barratarians,  to  whom  an  amnesty 
was  granted  by  the  general  and  the  governor  of  Louisiana,  on 
condition  of  their  joining  in  the  defence  of  the  country. 

The  loss  of  the  gun-boats  having  given  the  enemy  command 
of  lake  Borgne,  he  was  enabled  to  choose  his  point  of  attack. 
It  became,  therefore,  an  object  of  importance  to  obstruct  the 
numerous  bayous  and  canals  leading  from  that  lake  to  the 
highlands  on  the  Mississippi.  This  important  service  was 
committed  to  major-general  Villere,  commanding  the  district 
between  the  river  and  the  lakes,  who,  being  a  native  of  the 
country,  was  presumed  to  be  best  acquainted  with  all  these 
passes.     Unfortunately,  however,  a  picket  which  the  general 


HISTORV  OF  THE  WAR.  229 

nad  e.tublished  at  the  mouth  of  the  bayou  Bicnvcnu  and 
wluch,  notwithstanding  ^.encral  Jackson's^  orders,  had  'bee 
left  unobs  ructcd,  was  completely  surprised,  and  the  enemv 
penetrated  through  a  canal  leading  to  his  'farm,  about  two 
eagues  below  the  city,  and  succeeded  in  cutting  off  a  com^ 
pany  of  m.litia  stationed  there.  This  intelligence  was  com- 
rnumcatcd  to  Jackson  about  12  o'clock  on  the  23d  His  forTe 
at  this  time  consisted  of  parts  of  the  7th  and  44th  regiments 

Coffee  s  brigade  of  mounted  gun-men,  and  the  detached  mili 
lia  from  the  western  division  of  Tennessee,  under  the  cor 
nand  of  major-general  Carrol.     These  two  last  corps  w  r. 
s  ationed  four  miles  above  the  city.     Apprehending  rdoul 
attack  by    he  way  of  Chef  Menteur,  general  Cari^olVforce 
and  the  mihtia  of  the  city,  were  left  po^tCd  on  the  Gent  1  y  roaS* 
and  at  5  o'clock,  P.  M.  Jackson  marched  to  meet  the  enemy 
whom  he  was  resolved  to  attack  in  his  first  pos  don?  wTh 
major  Hind's  dragc^ns,  general  Coffee's  brigade,  parts  of  the 
rth  and  44th  regiments,  the  uniformed  commnieroTmiliUa 
lUider  the  command  of  major  Planche    200  m^n    >      i       ' 
rhipfl,'  frr,iv.  Cf   i-*      •      ""'J"\  r-icinene,  ^uo  men  ot  colour, 
chiefly  from  St.  Domingo,  and  a  detachment  of  artillery,  un- 
dcr  the  direction  of  colonel  M^Rca,  with   2  six-poundei^^  un 

?5So  men""""' ''  ^^^"^"""^  'P°^«'  -^  exc'eed^gl^  Tfl 

Jackson  arrived  near  the  enemy's  encampment  about  7  and 

immediately  made  his  dispositions  for  the  attack.  The  enemy's 

torces,  amounting  at  that  time  on  land  to  about  3000,  exSed 

rli  7r  fl"'^'"  nver,  and  in  the  rear  nearly  to  the  wood 
General  Coffee  was  ordered  to  turn  their  ripht,  while  Zuu 
lie  residue  of  the  force,  Jackson  attacked  hif  stro^^esj  ^ 
tion  on  he  left  near  the  river.  Commodore  Patterso^n!  haWn J 
dropped  down  the  river  in  the  scliooner,  Caroline,  was  dS 

halt  after  7.     Ihis  being  the  signal  of  attack,  general  Coffee's 
men    with  their  usual  impetuosity,  rushed  on  the  en^v'' 

wfth^  JlllllnSr  ^^^'  ^^"^'  '''''  '-'-^'^  ^-P«  ^^vLTed 
Unfortunately,  a  thick  fog,  which  arose  about  eight  o'clock 
arised  some  confusion  among  the  different  corps      ?eaS 
the  consequences,  under  this  circumstance,  of  the  further  nrrT 

for'n'^r^-"'^^;  "'^^^^  ^^^'^  ''^^^  th'en  acting  toget^he; 
tor  the  first  time,  Jackson  contenfPrl  hT^^ceir  ^..wu  i.?:„_^^".^' 

field  that  night;  and  at  four  in  the  m"or-ni;ig  1^;;;^^  aftrong"e: 

position  about  two  miles  nearer  to  the  city  s,xrongei 

In  this  action  the  American  loss  was  24  killed,  115  wound- 

u2. 


230 


HISTORY   0¥  THE  "WAR. 


ed,  and  74  missing;  the  British  loss  amounted  to  46  killed, 
167  vvounued,  and  64  niissin'^. 

The  country  betv.  ocn  New  Orleans  and  the  sea  is  one  ex- 
tensive swamp,  excepting  the  immediate  banks  of  the  Missis- 
sippi. These  banks  are  generally  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
wide,  and  being  higher  than  the  country  behind,  are  dry,  ex- 
cept in  time  of  inundation,  when  the  whole,  country  would 
•form  one  vast  flood,  were  it  not  for  the  artificial  banks  or  le- 
vees which  have  been  erected  for  the  preservation  of  the 
farms  on  this  narrow,  but  fertile  strip  of  land.  The  city  of 
New  Orleans  itself  is  protected  from  the  river  in  the  same 
manner.  At  intervals  there  are  bayous  or  outlets  which  pierce 
these  banks;  the  water  which  flows  through  them,  however, 
never  returns  to  the  bed  of  the  river,  but  finds  its  way  to  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico  by  other  channels  through  the  swamps. 

From  this  description  of  the  country,  it  will  be  perceived 
that  New  Orleans  is  extremely  susceptible  of  defence,  and 
that  over  a  certain  proportion,  numbers  are  nearly  unavailing. 
The  position  taken  up  by  general  Jackson  occupied  both  Banks 
of  tiie  river.  On  the  left  it  was  simply  a  straight  line  of  a 
front  of  about  1000  yards,  with  a  parapet,  the  right  resting 
on  the  river,  and  the  left  on  a  wood,  which  communicated  with 
the  swamp,  and  the  passage  of  which  had  been  rendered  im- 
practicable for  troops.  This  line  was  strengthened  by  flank- 
works,  and  had  a  ditch  with  about  four  feet  of  water.  On  the 
right  bank  was  a  heavy  battery  of  15  gvms,  which  enfiladed  the 
whole  front  of  the  position  on  the  left  bank. 

The  British  having  erected  a  battery  in  the  night  of  the  26th, 
succeeded  on  the  following  day,  in  blowing  up  the  schooner 
Caroline,  which  lay  becalmed  a  short  distance  above  in  the 
Mississippi.  Her  crew,  however,  had  previously  made  their 
escape.  Emboldened  by  this  event,  the  enemy  marched  his 
whole  force  on  the  28th  up  the  levee,  in  the  hope  of  driving 
the  Afnericans  from  their  position,  and  with  this  view  opened 
upo^them,  at  the  distance  of  about  half  a  mile,  his  bombs  and 
rockets..  He  was  repulsed,  however,  with  the  loss  of  1 6  kill- 
ed, and  38  wounded.     The  American  loss  was  7  killed,  and 

8    /ounded.  ... 

Another  attempt  was  made  upon  the  American  hnes  on  the 
1  St  of  January.  The  enemy  having  the  preceding  night  erect- 
ed a  battery  near  the  works,  in  the  morning  opened  a  heavy 
fire  from  it,  and  made  two  bold  attempts  to  force  and  turn  the 
left  wing,  in  both  of  which  they  w  ere  repulsed;  and  in  the 
course  of  the  night  tliey  retreated  to  their  lines,  leaving  all 
their  guns  on  the  battery,  which  they  had  previously  spiked*, 


6  killed, 


i  one  ex- 
e  Missis- 
af  a  mile 
!  dry,  ex- 
ry  would 
iks  or  le- 
in  of  the 
,e  city  of 
the  same 
ch  pierce 
however, 
ray  to  the 
ps. 

perceived 
ence,  and 
navailing. 
oth  Banks 
line  of  a 
It  resting 
;ated  with 
dered  im- 
by  flank- 
.  On  the 
aladed  the 


r  the  26th, 
schooner 
ve  in  the 
lade  their 
rched  his 
of  driving 
5w  opened 
)ombs  and 
of  16  kill» 
dlled,  and 


nes  on  the 
ight  erect- 
d  a  heavy 
id  turn  the 
iUQ  in  the 
leaving  all 
^ly  spiked*, 


f 


\^ 

M 

o 
o 

H 
O 

1^ 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


231 


ajid  a  considerable  quantity  of  ammunition,  workino-tools,  and 
their  dead  unburied.  Their  loss  on  this  occasion  was  32  killed 
44  wounded,  and  2  missing;  that  of  the  American**  1 1  killed 
and  23  wounded. 

General  Jackson  was  reinforced  by  2500  Kentucky  militia 
on  the  4th,  and  on  the  6th  the  British  were   joined  bv  e-eneral 
Lambert,  at  the  head  of  the  second  part  of  the  expedition 
berious  preparations  were  now  made  for  storming-  the  Ameri- 
can works.  ° 

On  the  night  of  the  rth,  with  infinite  labour,  the  British 
succeeded  in  getting  their  boats  into  the  Mississippi,  by  wid- 
eiung  and  deepening  the  channel  of  the  bayou,  from  which 
they  had  about  two  weeks  before  effected  their  disembarka- 
tion. Though  these  operations  were  not  unperceived,  it  was 
not  m  Jackson's  power  to  impede  them  .by  a  general  attack: 
the  nature  of  the  troops  under  his  command,  mostly  militia, 
rendering  it  too  hazardou.s  to  attempt  extensive  offei^^ive  move^ 
ments  in  an  open  country,  against  a  numerous  and  well-dis- 
ciphned  army.  Although  his  forces,  as  to  number,  had  been 
increased  by  the  arrival  of  the  Kentucky  division,  his  strength 
had  received  yery  little  addition;  a  small  portion  only  of  that 
detachment  being  provided  with  arms.  Cdmpelled  thus  to 
wait  the  attack  of  the  enemy,  Jackson,  however,  took  every 
measure  to  repel  it  when  it  should  be  made,  and  to  defeat  the 
oJ)ject  in  view. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  8th,  the  enemy,  after  throwine 
a  heavy  shower  of  bombs  and  Gongreye  rockets,  advanced  their 
cohim.is  on  the  right  and  left  to  storm  the  entrenchments  on 
the  left  bank  of  the  Mississippi;  throwing  over  a  considerable 
torce  in  his  boats  at  the  same  time  to  the  right  bank.  The 
entrenchments  on  the  right  bank,  were  occupied  by  general 
Morgan,  with  the  New  Orleans  contingent,  theXoffisiana  mi* 
Iitia,  and  a  strong  detachment  of  the  Kentucky  trJops;  eeneral 
Jackson,  with  the  Tennessee  and  the  remainder  of  the  Ken- 
Uicky  mihtia,  occupied  the  works  on  the  left  bank. 

The  columns  of  the  enemy  advanced  in  good  6rder  towards  • 
Jackson  s  entrenchments,  the  men  shouldering  their  muskets 
and  all  carrying  fascines,  and  some  with  ladders.  TJie  batte- 
ries now  opened  an  incessant  fire  on  the  British  columns, 
which  contmued  to  advance  in  pretty  good  order,  untU^  in  a 
ew  nunutes,  the  musqetry  of  the  militia  joining  their  fire  with' 
that  of  tbe  artillery,  began  to  make  an  imnression  on  th*.m. 
wTiich  soon  threw  them  into  confusion.  At  this  time  the  noise 
ot  the  continued  rolling  fire  resembled  the  concussion  of  tre- 
mendous peals  of  thunder.    For  some  time  the  British  ojfii 


«•,, 


i 


]i!i 


m 


Ml 


232' 


msToiiy  of  the  war. 


cers  succeeded  in  animating  the  courage  of  tlieir  troops,  al- 
though every  discharge  from  the  batteries  openec  the  columns, 
mowino;  down  whole  files,  which  were  almost  instantaneously- 
replaced  by  new  troops  coming  up  close  after  the  first:  but 
these  also  shared  the  same  fate,  until  at  last,  after  25  mmute^i 
continued  .ling,  through  which -a  few  platoons  advanced  to 
the  edge  of  the  ditch,  the  columns  broke  and  retreated  m  con- 
fusion. .  ,  .  ,  n^u^ 
A  second  attack  w;ts  received  m  the  same  manner.  1  he 
British  were  forced  to  retreat,  with  an  immense  loss.  tivX 
vain  was  the  attempt  of  the  officers  to  bring  them  up  a  third 
time.  The  soldiei-s  were  insensible  to  every  thing  but  dan- 
ger, and  saw  nothing  but  death,  which  had  struck  so  many  ot 

their  coinrades.  ,  t,     i      i 

Near  the  commencement  of  the  attack,  general  Packenhani, 
the  British  commander-in-chief,  lost  his  life  at  the  head  of  his 
troops,  and  soon  after  generals  Keane  and  Gibbs  were  carried 
.off  the  field  dangerously  wounded.  A  great  many  other  otti- 
,  cers  of  rank  fell,  and  the  plain  bt- twcen  the  front  hne  of  the 
British  and  the  American  works,  a  distance  of  400  yards,  was 
literally  covered  with  the  enemy's  dead  and  wounded.  At 
this  tirae  general  Jackson's  loss  was  only  seven  killed  and  six 

^^The^entire  destruction  of  the  British  army  had  now  been  in- 
evitable, had  not  an  unfortunate  occurrence^  at  this  moment 
taken  place  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river.  1  lie  troops  which 
had  landed  there  were  hardy  enough  to  advance  agamst  the 
works,  and  at  the  very  moment  when  their  entire  discomfature 
was  looked  for  with  confidence,  tli«  Kentucky  militia  mglori- 
ouslv  fled,  drawing  after  them,  by  their  example,  the  remam- 
der  of  the  forces.  Commodore  Patterson,  who  commanded 
rhe  batteries,  was  of  course  forced  to  abandon  them,  after  spik- 

intr  his  guns.  ,    ,  c    rr  • 

This  unfortunate  rout  totally  changed  the  aspect  of  affairs. 
The  enemy  now  occupied  a  position  from  ^hich  he  could  an- 
noy Jackson  without  hazard,-and  by  means  ot  which  he  might 
.     have  been  enabled  to  defeat,  in  a  great  measure,  the  effects  ol 
the  success  of  the  Americans  on  the  other  side  of  the  river.  It 
became,  therefore,  an  object  of  the  ^^^^  ^«^^f  ^^,^"?,^/^/;„^^^ 
lodee  him  as  soon  as  possible.     For  this  object,  all  the  means 
Which  Jackson  could  with  any  safety  use,  were  immediately 
....:_„     XI. ,4.  .^  .y.r'^rii  Viad  hppn  the  lossoi'the  Jbrit- 
ish  on  the  left  bank,  tnat  they  were  not  able  to  spare  a  suih- 
cient  number  of  troops  to  hold  the  position  ;viuch  they  nad 
gained  on  the  right  bank  without  jeopardizmg  the  safety  pi  the 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAH. 


233 


oops,  al- 
columns, 
taneously 
first:  but 
5  minute  ii 
iTanced  to 
cd  in  con- 

ler.  The 
OSS.  But 
Lip  a  third 
but  dan- 
)  many  of 

ickcnham, 
ead  of  his 
re  carried 
other  offi- 
ine  of  the 
j-ards,  was 
nded.  At 
ed  and  six 

w  been  in- 
is  moment 
)ops  which 
gainst  the 
scomfiturc 
tia  inglori- 
he  remain 
ommanded 
after  spik- 

,  of  affairs, 
e  could  an- 
h  he  mig'ht 
e  effects  of 
tie  river.  It 
;nce  to  dis- 
i  the  means 
mmediately 
of' the  Brit- 
pare  a  suffi- 
ch  they  had 
lafety  of  the 


whole.     The  troops  were  therefore  withdrawn,  and  Jackson 
immediately  regained  the  lost  position. 

The  spirit  of  atrocity  and  vengeance,  which  marked  the 
conduct  of  the  British  during  the  campaign,  was  manifested 
even  m  this  battle,  although  they  suffered  so  signal  a  defeat. 
Alter  their  final  repulse  on  the  left  bank,  numbers  of  the  Ame- 
rican troops,  prompted  merely  by  sentiments  of  humanity, 
went,  of  their  own  accord,  in  front  of  their  lines,  to  assist  the 
wounded  British,  to  give  them  drink,  and  to  carry  them  (as 

wJ-,  u^^^^^^^  ^^  ^^^^  ^"  *^^^^  ^^'^^^)  ^vi^J^in  the  lines.— 
While  they  were  thus  employed,  they  were  actually  fired  up- 
on, and  several  killed.  Yet  the  others,  regardless  of  the  dan- 
ger, persevered  in  their  laudable  purpose.  This  instance  of 
baseness  may  have  proceeded  from  individuals;  nor  would  it  in 
common  cases  be  presumed,  that  the  men  were  ordered  to 
hre  by  their  officers:  but  if  the  fact  be,  as  has  been  repeated- 
ly asserted  without  contradiction,  that  the  watchword  of  the 
day  was  the  significant  words  «  beauty  and  booty,"  no  charge 
would  seem  too  atrocious  for  belief  against  the  British  com- 
manders. 

The  total  loss  of  the  Americans  in  this  action  on  both  sides 
ot  the  nver,  was  13  killed,  39  wounded,  and  19  missing.  The 
British  acknowledge  a  loss  of  293  killed,  1267  wounded,  and 
484  missing.  About  1000  stand  of  arms  of  different  descrip- 
tions were  taken  by  the  Americans. 

The  British  having  retired  to  their  old  position,  continued 
to  occupy  it  till  the  night  of  the  18th,  although  constantly  an- 
noyed by  the  American  artillery  on  both  sides  of  the  river.  At 
midnight  they  precipitately  decamped,  and  returned  to  their 
boats,  leaving  behind,  under  medical  attendance,  80  wounded,- 
including  two  officers.   Fourteen  pieces  of  heavy  artillery,  and 
a  quantity  of  shot,  were  also  abandoned,  and  a  great  deal  of 
powder,  which,  however,  was  previously  destroyed.    But,  such 
was  the  situation  of  the  ground  which  the  enemy  abandoned, 
and  of  that  through  which  he  retired,  protected  by  canals,  re- 
doubts, entrenchments,  and  swamps  on  his  right,  and  the  river 
on  his  left,  that  Jackson  could  not,  without  encountering  a  risk 
which  true  policy  did  not  seem  to  require  or  to  authorise,  at- 
tempt to  annoy  him  much  on  his  retreat.     He  took  only  eie-ht 
prisoners.  "^     ° 

Commodore  Patterson,  however,  dispatched  five  boats  and 
iP^rl  "^^"^ed  and  armed  with  50  men,  under  the  command  of 

_    .^,u,^.jvi^,  i/«I3^-l  uu  iuc  i-vcvT  vyiicans  aiaiiou,  to 

annoy  the  retreat  of  the  British.     On  the  night  of  the  19th,  a 
"oat  lying  at  anchor  was  captured  by  surprise,  without  resist- 


4 


^1^ 


>  ?' 


334 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


ance,  containing  40  dragoons  and  14  seamen.  The  prisoners 
exceeding  the  detachment  in  numbers,  Shields  retunied,  and 
placing  them  in  charge  of  the  army,  again  set  out  in  pursuit, 
in  the  hope  of  intercepting  some  of  the  enemy's  boats  about 
day-light,  but  without  success. 

On  the  morning  of  the  21st,  Shields  once  more  pushed  off 
among  the  transports  of  the  enemy,  and  captured  several,  but 
unfortunately,  owing  to  a  strong  contrary  wind,  he  was  not 
able  to  bring  them  off;  some  of  them  were  therefore  given 
up  to  the  parolled  prisoners,  and  the  remainder  destroyed. 
Seventy-eight  prisoners  were  brought  in  by  this  intrepid  lit- 
tle band. 
^  Meantime  the  British  fleet  having  proceeded  up  the  Missis- 
sippi, bombarded  Fort  St.  Philip  for  eight  or  nine  days;  but 
not  being  able  to  make  any  impression,  they  commenced  their 
retreat  about  the  same  time  that  the  army  above  embarked  in 
their  boats,  viz.  on  the  18th  of  January.  The  bombarding  ves- 
sels were  stationed  most  of  the  time  out  of  the  reach  of  the 
guns  of  the, fort.  Major  Overton,  th  commander,  lost  Owly 
two  killed  and  seven  wounded. 

We  have  never  seen  any  official  statement  of  thj  forces  em- 
ployed in  this  expedition;  but  the  most  probable  calculation 
makes  the  force  landed  below  New  Orleans,  about  15,000,  viz. 
11,000  land-troops,  and  4000  sailors  and  marines.  So  confi- 
dent were  the  British  of  success,  that  collectors  of  the  customs 
and  other  civil  officers  attended  the  expedition,  several  of 
whom  were  among  the  prisoners  taken  by  Shiqjds,  on  the  re- 
treat of  the  army. 

As  soon  as  the  British  troops  were  embarked  on  board  their 
shipping,  the  squadron  made  for  Mobile  bay,  and  completely 
invested  Fort  Bowyer  both  by  land  and  water.  A  large  force 
was  landed  on  the  1 8th  of  February,  who  made  regular  ap- 
proaches, keeping  up  a  constant  firing,  until  the  11th,  when, 
the  approaches  being  within  pistol-shot  of  the  fort,  colonel 
Lawrence  was  summoned  to  surrender.  Resistance  being  un- 
availing against  the  overwhelming  force  of  the  enemy,  articles 
of  capitulation  were  agreed  to,  surrendering  the  fort  to  the 
British,  the  garrison,  consisting  of  366  men,  including  officers, 
being  considered  prisoners  of  war,  On  the  10th  and  1 1th,  ge- 
neral Winchester,  who  commanded  at  Mobile,  threw  a  detach- 
ment across  the  bay  for  the  relief  of  Fort  Bowyer,  but  too  late 
to  effect  any  thing,  except  the  capture  of  one  of  the  British 
barces,  with  17  men. 

Wliile  these  operations  were  carried  on  in  the  Gulph  of 
Mexico,  a  considerable  force  was  stationed  off  the  coast  of 


South 

nah. 

tary  st 

main, 

under 

island, 

the  for 

Hav 

shall  ni 

contini 

qucrul( 

they  ar 

It  wi 

tion  an( 

memor 

that  of 

sailed  f 

to  join  ( 

Porter  '. 

the  Cap 

crossing 

and  the 

'^ny  ene 

Praya  ft 

de  Verc 

packet  1 

ing  take 

to  the  L 

The  ii 

dezvous 

received 

him  und 

that  he  \ 

port,  the 

de  Janei: 

the  prise 

tbcir  caf 

vessels,  i 

All  sail, 

effort  to 

telligenci 

blockade 

"Gt,  and  i 

Montagu 
the  Horn 
pursuit©! 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


235 


risoners 

ned,  and 

pursuit, 

ts  about 

I  shed  off 
eral,  but 
was  not 
•e  given 
istroyed. 
-epid  lit- 

;  Missis- 
ays;  but 
:ed  their 
arked  in 
ling  ves- 
li  of  the 
lost  Owly 

rces  em- 
Iculation 

000,  viz. 
3o  confi- 
customs 
jveral  of 
1  the  re- 

ird  their 
tnpletely 
ge  force 
;ular  ap- 

1,  when, 
colonel 

eing  un- 
,  articles 
rt  to  the 
officers, 
nth,  ge- 
L  detach- 
too  late 
I  British 

julph  of 
coast  of 


nah  ThI  r  T^  ^'°'?'^'  ^«naci"g  Charleston  and  Savan- 
nah.     They  took  possession  of  Cumberland  island,  as  a  milU 

ml  f  °"'  r  "'  r  *^^^  "f  consequence  was  effected  on  the 
xmd";  adm1faT^n\'K''P*"''t  "^  ^.^^  ^^^'^»  ^^^  ^  detachment 
isS   afZ  th?  ^^  """'i  T^^  ^^^^"  '"'"™^^  to  Cumberland 

the  foit.l  th^^  •  ^I'^'^u^^'f  P"'P^^"  ^y  ^^^  destruction  of 
tne  torts  m  the  neighbourhood. 

sha^l^'niw^.*^'''  reviewed  every  import^int  military  event,  we 
shall  now  turn  our  attention  to  the  ocean,  where  our  cruizeTs 
contmued  to  range  with  unabated  vigour,  and  where,  to  use  the 
querulous  language  of  the  British  four;alists;«fiey  fight! 
they  are  sure  to  conquer;  if  they  fly  they  are  ure  to  escape  » 
It  will  be  recollected,  that  in  Octobei^  1812,  the  Constitu- 
tton  and  Hornet  sailed  from  'Boston  on  a  cruize  which  proved 
memorable  by  the  destruction  of  the  Java  by  the  former  Ind 

iTedf^m'^tre"n\'^''^^r"    ^""^  Ess  Jx,  captaLTo'r  et 
sailed  irom  the  Delaware  about  the  same  time,  inder  orders 

PoC  irr^^'"  Bainbridge,  who  commanded  the  squadron! 

the  cLfn  '.z'"^"'.  r  '^^  '«th  *^f  O^t^l^^^'  a"d  steeredl; 
the  Cape  de  Verd  islands,  the  first  appointed  rendezvous 
crossmg  the  track  of  the  homeward-boS^d  British  Indramen; 
^  the  outward-bound  West  Indiamen.  Without  meeS 
^ny  enemy's  vessels,  he  reached  St.  Jago,  and  put  inTo  Pol 
Praya  for  supplies.  On  the  29th  of  NoveLer  he  left  the  Cape 
de  Verds  for  the  Brazil  coast.  A  few  days  after,  a  BriSh 
packet  was  captured,  with  about  855,000  in^spec  e,Vhich  be^ 

To^hf^rd'ste;.^^^^^  ^^^  ^^^P^"^^^  -^'  ^  P^--— 

The  island  of  Fernando  de  Noronha,  the  second  nlace  of  ren 
dezvous  was  reached  on  the  41th  of  December  Sere  Porter 
received  a  communication  from  the  commodore,  addressed  to 
him  under  tJiefictiUous  title  of  sir  James  Lucas  Yerstatin^ 
tha  he  would  find  him  off  Cape  Frio.  Without  ente.W  SI 
por  ,  therefore,  the  Essex  stood  to  the  southward  Nea?  Rio 
de  Janeiro  a  British  schooner  was  captured,  and  after  takfn^ 
e  prisoners  out,  it  was  discovered,  that  about  an  hourbeforf 

t^ir^'Z^'  "r^  ''^''  P='««'d  ^"ih  a  small  convoy  o?BriUsh 
ve  sels  under  charge  of  the  Juniper  a  three-masted  schooner 

^o»t  """'fT'  ^"^  ""'"^diately  made  in  pursuit,  but  every 
eHort  to  reach  then,  nroved  abortive.    During  the  oursuit  in 

hln'f:;";T  !?"'""'•  f™">   different  vess^e    ,  fi^rst  rf  t le 
blockade  of  the  Bonne  Citoyenne  by  the  Constitulion  and  Ho  ! 

n^'Ct^..^'"^""  '■-  "-  M^^ague-'hXne^ri 


m 


m-' 


236 


HISTORY   OF  THE  WAR. 


This  intelligence  removed  all  expectations  of  the  Essex  bc.> 
ing  enabled  to  join  commodore  Bainbridge;  and  it  became 
absolutely  necessary,  therefore,  for  Porter  to  depart  from  the 
letter  of  his  instructions.  He  acordingly  determined  to  pur- 
sue that  course  which  seemed  best  calculated  to  injure  the 
enemy,  and  to  enable  the  cruize  to  be  prolonged.  This 
could  only  be  done  by  going  into  a  friendly  port  where  sup- 
plies could  be  procured,  without  the  danger  of  blockade;  and 
the  most  suitable  place  for  that  purpose  seemed  to  be  th^  port 
of  Conception,  on  the  coast  of  Chili.  The  season,  it  being  now 
the  end  of  January,  was,  to  be  sure,  far  advanced  for  doubling 
Cape  Horn;  the  stock  of  provisions  also  was  short,  and  the 
^ip  in  other  respects  not  well  supplied  with  stores  for  so 
Ibng  a  cruize.  But  there  appeai'ed  to  Porter  no  other  choice 
left,  except  capture,  starvation,  or  blockade.  This  course 
seemed  to  him  the  more  justifiable,  also,  as  it  accorded  with 
the  views  of  the  secretary  of  the  navy,  as  well  as  those  of  the 
commodore.  Before  the  declaration  of  war,  Porter  had  laid 
before  the  ^cretary  a  plan  of  annoying  the  enemy's  commerce 
in  the  Pacific,  which  had  been  approved  of;  and  prior  to  this 
cruize,  commodore  Bainbridge  having  requested  his  opinion 
as  to  the  best  mode  of  ^noying  the  enemy,  Porter  had  laid 
the  same  plan  before  him.  This  had  also  been  approved  of 
by  the  commodore,  who  signified  his  intention  to  pursue  it, 
provided  supplies  of  provisions  could  be  procured.  Although 
there  was  considerable  responsibility  attached  to  this  proceed- 
ing, and  the  undertaking  was  greater  than  had  yet  been  en- 
gaged in  by  any  single  ship  in  similar  pursuits,  yet  the  season 
admitting  of  no  delay.  Porter,  immediately  on  getting  to  sea, 
stood  to  the  southward,  and  the  crew  were  put  on  short  allow- 
ance of  provisions,  in  order  to  husband  them  for  the  long  voy- 
age on  which  they  were  now  embarked. 

Cape  Horn  was  doubled  about  the  middle  of  February, 
amidst  tremendous  storms;  and  the  Essex  surmounted  all  the 
clangers  of  hurricanes,  fogs,  and  breakers,  by  the  intrepidity 
of  her  commander,  and  the  distinguished  coolness  and  activity 
of  her  crew,  to  which  the  uncommon  degree  of  health  they 
enjoyed,  from  the  judicious  arrangements  of  captain  Porter, 
not  a  little  contributed.  In  the  latitude  of  about  40°  south, 
pleasant  moderate  weather  succeeded  to  the  incessant  storms 
and  severe  cold  experienced  in  the  passage  around  the  stormy 
cape,  and  on  the  6th  of  March,  the  Essex  came  to  an  anchor 
off  an  uninhabited  island  called  Mocha,  in  the  latitude  of  about 
58°  15'  S.  about  eight  leagues  distant  from  the  coast  of  Chili- 
At  Mocha,  a  considerable  supply  of  fresh  provisions  was  pro- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR.  237 

feraWe  food,  tljal Jthe  ho^t^^l  /.Jl.'^h!"""''  '°  -=  ">>=  P^" 

brought  proposals^or  a  frlndr;  a    rce?aid^  sl^ce"'?''' 

was  Porter's  intention  to  visit  that  coast  neit,  for,  frim  f  11  L 
counts,  the  coast  of  Peru,  and  from  there  to  th^  r^ 

ei  3.    Porter  accordingly  ran  down  the  coast  of  Chili  and  pi 
^"'cktVlr  '  P'-Tf'i  '°  "'^  Gallapagos  islands      I^  this" 

™grg'l,;:sLp'^^^^^^^^ 
£^^|t"hV=-!retrrptLrji:-^^^^^^ 

ue  valuable  iiiitish  whale-vessels  in  the  Pacific  were  r-r,' 
tured,  excepting  one  which  had  been  l.id  ud  at  CormimJ,„f 

ml,:7<^!-r"'  '""  '"--Kbeen  disarmTd    y'^Z 'gove™^ ' 
mtnt  of  Chill,  in  consequence  of  the  active  oart  she  h  J  ,  t 
m  favour  of  the  Peruvians,  who  adheTd  to'^Fe,dina„H      -rh" 
H"dtr,iPtr,l°  •"%f 'T^  wartunfat^dTtto  mu! 

t\wTi;;  nlS"  '"."  ^^^"^"'   ^"^  8""«'  a»d  302  men.-: 

scut  tn  v.?  ^  ^r  S'"^^"  "P  ^«  ^h^  prisoners,  three  were 

^cut  to  Valparaiso,  where  they  were  laid  up  and  three  were 


i. 

II,. 


'It  4 


«  ' 


HISTOKY  OF  THE  WAll. 


sent  to  tlie  United  States.  Lieutenant  Downes  convoyed  the 
prizes  sent  to  Valparaiso,  in  another  prize,  which  had  been 
fitted  up  as  a  cruizcr,  under  the  name  of  the  Essex  Junior. 
He  rejoined  captain  Porter  at  the  Gallapagos  on  the, 30th  of 
September,  and  brought  letters  from  Valparaiso,  containing 
information  that  a  squadron,  under  the  command  of  commo- 
dore James  Hillyar,  consisting  of  the  frigate  Phoebe,  of  36 
^uns,  the  Racoon  and  Cherub  sloops  of  war,  and  a  store-ship 
of  20  guns,  had  sailed  from  England  in  pursuit  of  the  Essex. 
That  the  Racoon  and  Cherub  had  been  seeking  her  for  some 
time  on  the  coast  of  Brazil,  and  had  then  proceeded  in  quest 
of  her  to  the  Pacific. 

The  Essex  had  now  been  nearly  a  year  at  sea,  almost  with- 
out intermission,  and,  as  maybe  supposed,  required  consider- 
able repairs  to  put  her  in  a  proper  state  to  meet  the  enemy. 
Captain  Porter,  therefore,  determined  to  steer  for  the  Wash- 
ington Islands  for  that  purpose,  and,  on  the  2d  of  October,  the 
Essex,  in  company  with  the  Essex  Jilifior,  Greenwich,  Serin- 
•gapatam,  Nfew  Zealunder,  and  the  Sir  Andrew  Hammond,  fi- 
nally left  the  Gallapagos,  or  the  Enchanted  Isles,  as  some  have 
called  them,  from  the  difficulty  of  clearing  them,  owing  to  the 
currents  and  baffling  winds.  These  islands  are  described  by 
-captain  Porter  as  being  all  of  volcanic  origin,  and  totally  de- 
void of  running  streams.  There  are  some  few  springs,  but 
the  water  is  quickly  absorbed  by  the  loose  and  thirsty  lava  and 
cinders,  of  which  these  islands  are  principally  composed.— 
When  Porter  visited  them,  their  only  inhabitants  were  tor- 
toises, guanas,  lizards,  and  snakes,  but  as  he  lost  a  number  of 
goats  which  were  put  on  shore  to  graze,  the  probaLility  is  that 
they  will  soon  be  stocked  by  these  useful  animals.  The  turtics 
are  in  such  abundance  as  to  furnish  plentiful  supplies  of  fresh 
provision  for  ships  stopping  there. 

The  Marquesas,  of  which  the  Washington  groupe  forms  a 
part,  are  situated  between  the  latitude  of  6°  and  11°  S.  and 
'  136°  and  142°  W.  from  London.  Captain  Porter,  with  his 
squadron,  arrived  at  the  island  called  Nooaheevah  by  the  na- 
tives, on  which  Porter  bestowed  the  name  of  Madison's  Island, 
in  honour  of  the  American  president.  Here  a  fine  bay  was 
discovered,  which  appeared  to  offer  every  advantage  that  could 
be  desired.  A  friendly  intercourse  was  soon  opened  with  the 
natives  dwelling  near  the  beach;  but  their  operations  on  shore 
were  threatened  to  be  disturbed  by  the  natives  of  a  i|||;ighbour- 

had  landed.     On  the  capture  of  one  of  their  strong  holds,  how- 
ever, by  a  party  of  iailors,  who  accompanied  the  frieindly  na- 


HISTORY  OP  THE  WAH. 


:39 


lives,  the  hostile  Indians  gladly  accepted  of  the  peace  offered 

w^thM^:'  The'  r  1 '"""  ""'  -tablisf in,  a  fric.KS;  conTme  e 
wilhhm.  Ihe  Indians  now  erected  a  little  villaec  Ibr  the 
reception  of  the  articles  taken  out  of  the  Essex  h' order  to 
hcMMcpairs,  and  the  greatest  harmony  prevailed  between  the 

pluuifu   supplies  of  provisions  in  exchange  for  nieces  of  iron 
hsh-hooks,  and  whales'  teeth.  *  ' 

But  the  conduct  of  the  Typees,  one  of  the  most  numerous 

dv  sron'  H  *"^' V';  -^^^  ^'''"*''  ^^^""  threatened  to  putTspee- 
I  y  Slop  to  the  useful  intercourse  established  with  the  natives. 
1  hey  contnvia  ly  insulted  the  friendly  Indians,  callinp  them 
cowards  for  submitting  to  the  white  r!en,  to  whom  tiey  appT 
cd  the  most  degrading  epithets.  In  reply  to  a  messenger  whom 
Poner  sent  to  their  valley,  to  induce  them  to  remain^at  peac^ 
t^JyT'"^-^^  exchange  of  presents  as  a  proof  of^heir 
.nofl^  flisposition,  they  desired  to  know  why  they  should 

?,n-.?  T?/"^"'^*'^'P'  ^"**  '''^y  ^^'^y  ^h°"»d  b"»g  l^i'n  hogs  and 
T  n^:       if  7^s  strong  enough,  they  said,  they  knew  he  would 
t^ome  and  take  them:  his  not  doing  so  was  an  acknowledgment 
pt  his  weakness.     I'orter  was  extremely  averse  from  enffaeinc 
ma  useless  warfare  with  these  people;  but  he  conceived  that 
necesjjity  compelled  him  to  take  some  steps  to  punish  them 
in  order  to  secure  the  friendship  of  the  other  Indians,  who* 
made  no  secret  of  their  belief  that  his  backwardness  to  eigaee 
in  war  arose  solely  from  cowardice.     A  distant  day  was  theil! 
fore  appointed  for  an  expedition  against  the  Typees,  and  in  the 
mean  while  Porter  practiced  every  means  to  inspire  them  with 
em.^r    f%''''''''  by  making  them  acqainted  with  the  deadfy 
effects  of  fire-arms.     But  they  felt  too  conscious  of  their  num^ 
heis,  and  of  the  natural  strength  of  their  valley,  surrounded  bv 
mountains  impenetrable,  as  they  believed,  to  white  men,  to 
listen  to  peaceable  overtures;  and  in  this  disposition  thcv  were 

TontuT  ^'Jl  '^r  r'"'  "^  '^'  ^''''  """"^P^  '^^'^^  t«  enter  their 
lam  'nVn  .l!i-'  ^"n"''  men,  with  captain  Porter  at  their  head, 
landed  in  their  valley,  but  from  the  nature  of  the  countiv,  it 
was  found  impossible  to  make  any  impression  on  them  with 
this  small  force;  and  alter  penetrating  though  marshes  and 
thickets,  through  which  they  had  to  fight  their  way,  the  pro- 

feetV\  l^  Pf^7,^l^.«  fi^^-»y  stopped  by  a  strong  wall  seven 
leet  high,  fla^iked  by  impenetrable  thickets. 

The  situation  of  the  party  was  at  this  moment  peculiarly  ha- 
zardous=  The  cu.rounding  hiiis  wore  covered  by  those  Indi- 
ans, who  at  present  professed  friendship.  Great  numbers  al- 
5»fi  had  landed  VMth  them,  but  thev  had  taken  little  or  no  part 


■3--     - 

ii 


240 


IIlS'JlonY    OF  THE  WAR. 


in  the  contest,  and  the  appearance  of  a  defeat,  it  was  suppos- 
i  d,  would  brinjj;  on  an  attack  from  the  tribe  that  had  been  be- 
fore deflated,  if  not  by  tlie  whole  force  of  the  island.  A  re- 
treat was  therefore  feigned,  in  order  to  draw  the  Indians  from 
their  fort,  and  in  an  instant  they  rushed  upon  the  party  with 
hideous  yells.  The  first  and  second  which  advanced  were 
killed,  and  those  who  attempted  to  carry  them  otV  were  wound- 
ed; on  seeing  which,  they  abandoned  their  dead,  and  precipi- 
tately retreated  to  their  fort.  Porter  was  now  suffered  to  re- 
treat nearly  unmolested.  On  arriving  at  the  beach  a  messen- 
ger was  again  dispatched  to  offer  peace,  but  they  only  answer- 
t  d  by  a  challenge  to  renew  the  contest. 

Porter  now  determined  to  embark,  as  the  Indians  had  all  de- 
scended the  hills,  and  the  defeat  of  the  white  men  by  the  Ty- 
pees  formed  the  universal  topic  of  conversation.  The  pun- 
itihment  of  the  hostile  natives  being  deemed,  however,  more 
important  than  ever,  a  large  body  was-  next  day  marched  to 
their  valley  across  the  mountains,  and  notwithstanding  the  ex- 
treme difticii'Ities  of  the  route,  penetrated  into  their  country, 
and  completely  drove  them  out  of  the  valley.  We  regret  to 
say,  that  the  whole  of  their  villages  were  burned  and  laid 
waste,  as,  though  the  practice  is  usual  in  Indian  warfare,  we 
cannot  perceive  that  the  same  necessity  existed  that  can  be 
urged  foV  this  measure  in  contests  with  the  Indians  in  our  own 
territory. 

The  Typees  were  now  glad  to  accept  of  the  same  terms  of 
peace  which  they  had  before  scorned,  and  every  tribe  on  the 
island  courted  the  friendship  of  the  whites. 

Previous  to  the  Typee  war,  a  fort  had  been  erected  in  the 
valley  where  Porter  first  landed,  by  permission  of  the  inhabi- 
tants, and  the  Hag  of  the  United  States  was  hoisted,  and  the 
island  formally  taken  possession  of  in  the  name  of  the  Ameri- 
can government,  by  the  title  of  Madison's  Island,  under  a  sa- 
lute of  17  guns.  The  object  of  the  ceremony  being  explained 
to  the  inhabitants,  they  expressed  much  pleasure  at  the  idea  of 
being  adopted  Mcllickees^  as  they  called  the  Americans. 

The  Essex  being  now  completely  repaired,  and  provisions 
for  four  months  laid  in,  she  sailed  for  Valparaiso  on  the  12th 
of  December,  in  company  with  the  Essex  Junior.  The  thfee 
prizes  were  secured  under  the  guns  of  the  fort,  and  left  in 
charge, of  lieutenant  Gamble  of  the  marines,  and  21  men,  with 
orders  to  proceed  to  Valparaiso  after  a  certain  period. 

Riir>rtlv  after  captain  Porter  reached  Va.lt)araisOi  coiinmodore 
Ilillyar  arrived  there  in  the  Plicebe  frigate,  accompanied  by 
the  Cherub  sloop  of  war.     These  ships,  having  been  sent  out 


;  suppos- 
been  be- 
I.  A  re- 
ans  from 
arty  with 
:ecl  were 
e  wound- 
l  p  reel  pi- 
ed to  re- 
.  nu'ssen- 
y  answcr- 

ad  all  dc- 
y  the  Ty- 
rhe  piin- 
er,  more 
U'ched  to 
g  the  ex- 
country, 
regret  to 
and  laid 
rfare,  we 
lat  can  be 
ti  our  own 

!  terms  of 
be  on  the 

ed  in  the 
ne  inhabi- 
,  and  the 
e  Ameri- 
idcr  a  sa- 
cxplained 
he  idea  of 
ms. 

[provisions 
the  12th 
rhe  thfee 
ind  left  in 
men,  with 
d. 

nnmodore 
)anied  by 
n  sent  out 


HISTORY  OP  THE  WAp. 


241 


expressly  to  seek  for  the  Essex,  were  in  prime  order  and 
equipment   with  picked  crews,  and  hoisted  flags  bearing  the 
niotto  «  (iod  and  country,  British  sailors'  best  rights:   traitors 
ojfend  doth."     This  was  in  opposition  to  Porter's  motto  of 
tvte  trade  and  sailors'  rights,"  and  the  latter  part  of  it  sug- 
gcsted,  doubtless,  by  crn)r  Industriously  cherished,  that  the 
American  crews  were  chiefly  composed  of  English  seamen, 
in  reply  to  this  motto,  Porter  hoisted  at  his  mizen,  «  God,  our 
country,  and  liberty,  tyrants  oftend  them."     On  entering  the 
harbour,  the  Phoebe  fell  foul  of  the  Essex  in  such  a  manner  as 
to  lay  her  at  the  mercy  of  captain  Porter;  out  of  respect  to  the 
neutrality  of  the  port,  however,  he  did  not  take  advantage  of 
her  exposed  situation.     This  forbearance  was  afterwards  ac 
knovvledged  by  commodore  Hillyar,and  he  passed  his  word  of 
honour  to  observe  like  conduct  while  they  remained  in  port. 
1  he;r  continued,  therefore,  while  in  harbour  and  on  shore,  in 
the  mutual  exchange  of  courtesies  and  kind  offices,  that  should 
Characterize  the  private    intercourse   between    civilized  and 
generoits  enemies;  and  the  crews  of  the  respective  ships  often 
mingled  together,  and  passed  nautical  jokes  and  pleansantries 
irom  one  to  the  other. 

On  getting  their  provisions  on  board,  the  Phcebe  and  Cherub 
went  off  the  port,  where  they  cruized  for  six  weeks,  rigorously 
blockading  captam  Porter.  Their  united  force  amounted  to 
81  guns  and  500  men,  in  addition  to  which  they  took  on  board 
the  crew  ot  an  English  letter  of  marque  lying  in  port.  The  force 
of  the  Essex  consisted  of  but  46  guns  all  of  which,  excepting 
SIX  ong  twelves,  were  32  pound  carrbnades,  only  serviceabk 
n  close  fighting.  Her  crew,  having  been  much  reduced  by 
tlie  manmng  of  prizes,  amounted  to  but  255  men.  The  Essex 
Junior  being  only  intended  as  a  store-ship,  mounted  ten  18 

onr^eo^'men"  """"^  ^^"  '^°''  ''''^*'  "^"^^  ""  complement  of 

This  vast  superiority  of  force  on  the  part  of  the  enemy  pre- 
vented  aU  chance  of  encounter,  on  any  thing  like  equal  terms, 
unless  by  express  covenat  between  the  commaders.     Captain 
Porter,  therefore,  endeavoured  repeatedly  to  provoke  a  chal- 
enge  (the  interiority  of  his  frigate  to  the  Phcebe  not  justifying 
him  m  making  the  challenge  himself),  but  without  effect.  hI 
tiled  frequently  ako_to  bring  the  Phcebe  into  single  action;  but 
this  comniodore  HUlyar  warily  avoided,  and  always  kept  liis 
ships  so  close  together  as  to  frustrate  cantain  PnrtPr'«  .ftJrr.,... 
iiiiUmg  It  impossible  to  bring  the  enemy  to  equal  combat'and 
iearmg  the  ai^-ival  of  additional  force,  which^  he  understood 
was  ou  the  way.  Porter^  determined  to  put  .to  scathe  first  op^ 

X  2       .  . 


i 
I 


H2 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


portunity  that  should  present.  A  rcndczvoirs  was  accordingly 
t)pened  for  the  Essex  Junior,  and  having  ascertained  by  re- 
peated trials  that  the  Essex  was  a  superior  sailer  to  either  of 
the  blockading  ships,  it  was  agreed  that  she  should  let  the 
enemy  chase  her  off;  thereby  giving  the  Essex  Junior  an  op- 
portunity of  escaping. 

On  the  next  day,  the  28th  of  March,  1814,  the  wind  came 
on  to  blow  fresh  from  the  southward,  and  the  Essex  parted 
her  larboard  cable,  and  dragged  her  starboard  anchor  directly 
out  to  sea.     Not  a  moment  was  lost  in  getting  sail  on  the  ship; 
but  perceiving  that  the  enemy  was  close  in  with  the  point  form- 
ing the  west  side  of  the  bay,  and  that  there  Avas  a  possibility 
of  passing  to  windward,  and  escaping  to  sea  by  superior  sail- 
ing, captain  Porter  resolved  to  hazard  the  attempt.     He  ac- 
cordingly took  in  his  top-gallant  sails,  and  braced  up  for  the 
purpose,  but  most  unfortunately,  on  rounding  the  point,  a  heavy 
squall  struck  the   ship,  and  carried  away  her  main  top-mast, 
precipitating  the  men  who  were  aloft  into  the  sea,  who  were 
drowned.     Both  ships  now  gave  chase,  and  the  crippled  state 
of  his  ship  left  Porter  no  alternative  but  to  endeavour  to  regain 
the  port.     Finding  it  imi)Ossible  to  get  back  to  the  common 
anchorage,  he  ran  close  into  a  small  bay,  about  three  quarters 
of  a  mile  to  leeward  of  the  battery,  on  the  east  of  the  harbour, 
and  let  go  his  anchor  within  pistol-shot  of  the  shore.  Supposing 
the  enemy  would,  as  formerly,  respect  the  neutraility  of  the 
place,  he  considered  himself  secure,  and  thought  only  of  re- 
pairing the  damages  he  had  sustained.     The  wary  and  mena- 
cing approach  of  the  hostile  ships,  however,  displaying  their 
motto  flags,  and  having  jacks  at  all  their  masts'  heads,  soon 
showed  hira  the  veal  danger  of  his  situation.     With  all  possi- 
ble dispatch  therefore,  he  got  his  ship  ready  for  action,  and 
endeavoured  to  get  a  spring  on  his  cable,  but  had  not  succeed- 
ed, when,  at  54  minutes  past  3,  P.  M-  the  enemy  commenced 
iin  attack. 

At  first  the  Phoebe  placed  herself  under  his  stern,  and  the 
Cherub  on  his  starbord  bow;  but  the  latter  soon  finding  herself 
exposed  to  a  hot  fire,  bore  up  and  ran  under  his  stem  also, 
where  both  ships  kept  up  a  severe  and  raking  fire.  Porter 
iiucceeded  three  different  times  in  getting  springs  on  his  ca- 
bles, for  the  piu'pose  of  bringing  his  broadside  to  bear  on  the 
cnemy^  but  they  were  as  often  shot  away  by  the  excessive  fire 
to  which  he  was  exposed.  He  was  obliged,  therefore,  to  rely 
for  defence  against  this  tremendous  attack  merely  on  three 
long  twelve-pounders,  which  he  had  run  out  of  the  stern-ports; 
and  which  were  worked  with  such  bravery  laid  skilli  as  in  half 


HlSTOilY  OF  THE  WAR. 


243 


;or<Ungly 
id  by  re- 
either  of 
i  let  the 
3r  an  op- 

ind  came 
X  parted 
'  directly 
the  ship; 
>int  form- 
ossibility 
rior  sail- 
He  ac- 
p  for  the 
t,  a  heavy 
fop-mast, 
vho  were 
>led  state 
to  regain 
common 
quarters 
harbour, 
upposing 
ty  of  the 
nly  of  re- 
nd mena- 
i^ing  their 
ads,  soon 
all  possi- 
:tion,  and 
succeed- 
mmenced 

I,  and  the 
[ig  herself 
item  also, 
!.  Porter 
on  his  ca- 
;ar  on  the 
essive  fire 
re,  to  rely 
'  on  three 
ern-portsj 
as  in  half 


an  hour  to  do  great  iifjury  to  both  the  enemy's  ships,  and  in- 
duce them  to  haul  off  and  repair  damages.  It  was  evidently 
the  mtention  of  commodore  Hillyar  to  risk  nothing  from  the 
darmg  courage  of  his  antagonist,  but  to  take  the  Essex  at  as 
cheap  a  rate  as  possible.  All  his  manoeuvres  were  deliberate 
and  wary;  he  saw  his  antagonist  completely  at  his  mercy,  and 
prepared  to  cut  him  up  in  the  safest  and  surest  manner.  In 
the  mean  time  the  situation  of  the  Essex  was  galling  and  pro- 
voking in  the  extreme;  crippled  and  shattered,  with  many 
killed  and  wounded,  she  lay  awaiting  the  convenience  of  the 
enemy,  to  renew  the  scene  of  slaughter,  with  scarce  a  hope  of 
escape  or  revenge.  Her  brave  crew,  however,  in  place  of 
bemg  disheartened,  were  aroused  to  desperation,  and  by  hoist- 
ing ensigns  in  their  rigging,  and  jacks  in  different  parts  of 
the  ship,  evinced  their  defiance  and  determination  to  hold  out 
to  the  last. 

The  enemy  having  repmred  his  damages,  now  placed  him- 
self, with  both  his  ships,  on  the  starboard  quarter  of  the  Es- 
sex, out  of  reach  of  her  carronades,  and  where  her  stern-guns 
could  not  be  brought  to  bear.  Here  he  kept  up  a  most  de- 
structive  fire,  which  it  was  not  in  Porter's  power  to  return; 
the  latter,  th  jrefore,  saw  no  hope  of  injuring  him  without  get- 
ting under  way  and  becoming  the  assailant.  From  the  man- 
gled state  of  his  rigging,  he' could  set  no  other  than  the  flying 
jib;  this  he  caused  to  be  hoisted,  cut  his  cable,  and  ran  down 
on  both  ships,  with  an  intention  of  laying  the  Phoebe  on  board. 

For  a  short  time  he  was  enabled  to  close  with  the  enemyj 
and  the  firing  on  both  sides  was  tremendous.  The  decks  of 
the  Essex  were  strewed  with  dead,  and  her  cockpit  filled  with 
wounded;  she  had  been  several  times  on  fire,  and  was  in  fact 
a  perfect  wreck;  still  a  feeble  hope  sprung  up  that  she  might 
be  saved,  in  consequence  of  the  Cherub  being  compelled  to 
haul  off  by  her  crippled  state;  she  did  not  return  to  close  ac- 
tion again,  but  kept  up  a  distant  firing  with  her  long  guns. 
The  disabled  state  of  the  Essex,  however,  did  not  permit  her 
to  take  advantage  of  this  circumstance;  for  want  of  sail  she 
was  unable  to  keep  £^t  close  quarters  with  the  Phcebe,  who,, 
edging  off,  chose  the  distance  which  best  suited  her  long  guns, 
and  kept  up  a  tremendous  fire,  which  made  dreadful  havoc 
among  the  crew  of  the  Essex.  Many  of  her  guns  were  ren- 
dered useless,  and  many  had  their  whole  crews  destroyed:  they 
were  manned  from  those  that  were  disabled,  and  one  gun  in 
particular  was  three  times  manned;  fifteen  men  were  skin  at 
it  in  the  course  of  the  action,  though  the  captain  of  it  escaped 
with  only  a  slight  wound.    Captain  Porter  now  gave  up  all 


m 

Its' 


11 


lii 


lii 


244 


HISTORY    OF  THE  WAR. 


hopes  of  clo  ung  with  the  enemy,  but  finding  the  wind  favoura- 
ble, determined  to  run  his  ship  on  shore,  land  the  crew,  and 
destroy  her.  He  had  approaclierl  within  musket-shot  of  the 
shore,  and  had  every  prospect  ox  succeeding,  when,  in  an  in- 
stant, the  wind  shifted  from  the  land,  and  drove  her  down  upon 
the  Phoebe,  exposing  her  again  to  a  dreadful  raking  fire.  The 
ship  was  now  totally  unmanageable;  yet  as  her  head  Avas  to- 
ward the  enemy,  and  he  to  leeward,  captain  Porter  again  per- 
ceived a  faint  hope  of  boarding.  At  this  moment  lieutenant 
Downes  of  the  Essex  Junior  came  on  board  to  receive  orders, 
expecting  that  captain  Porter  Avould  soon  be  a  prisoner.  His 
services  could  be  of  no  avail  in  the  deplorable  state  of  the  Es- 
sex, and  finding  from  the  enemy's  putting  his  helm  up,  that 
the  last  attempt  at  boarding  would  not  succeed,  Downes  was 
directed  to  return  to  his  own  ship,  to  be  Drepared  fov  defend- 
ing and  destroying  her  in  case  of  attack.  He  took  with  him 
several  of  the  wounded,  leaving  three  c^  his  boat's  crew  on 
board  to  make  room  for  them.  The  Cherub  kept  up  a  hot 
fire  on  him  during  his  return. 

The  slaughter  on  board  of  the  Essex  now  became  horrible,. 
the  enemy  continuing  to  rake  her,  while  she  was  unable  to 
bring  a  gun  to  bear  in  return.  Still  her  commander,  with  an 
obstinacy  tbat  bordered  on  desperation,  persisted  ir  the  tine- 
qual  and  almost  hopeless  conflict.  Every  expedient  that  a  fer- 
tile and  inventive  mind  could  suggest  was  resorted  ta,  in  the 
forlorn  hope  that  they  might  yet  be  enabled  by  some  lucky 
chance  to  escape  from  the  grasp  of  the  foe.  A  halser  was 
bent  to  the  sheet-anchor,  and  the  anchor  cut  from  the  bows,  to 
bring  the  ship's  head  round.  This  succeeded;  the  broatlside 
of  the  Essex  was  again  brought  to  bear;  and  as  the  enemy 
was  much  crippled,  and  unable  to  hold  his  own.  Porter  thought 
she  might  drift  out  of  gun-shot  before  she  discovered  that  he 
had  anchored.  The  halser,  however,  unfortunately  parted, 
and  with  it  failed  the  last  lingering  hope  of  the  Essex.  The 
ship  had  taken  fire  several  times  during  the  action,  but  at  this 
moment  her  situation  was  awfuL  She  was  on  fire  both  forward 
and  aft;  the  flames  were  bursting  up  ea.ch  hatchway;  a  large 
quantity  of  powder  below  exploded,  and  word  was  given  that 
the  fire  was  near  the  magazine.  Thus  surrounded  by  horrors, 
without  any  chance  of  saving  the  ship,  Porter  turned  his  at- 
tention to  rescuing  as  many  of  his  brave  companions  as  possi- 
ble. Finding  his  distance  from  the  shore  did  not  exceed  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile,  he  hoped  many  would  be  able  to  save  them- 
selves should  the  ship  blow  up.  His  boats  had  been  cut  ta 
pieces  by  the  enemy's  shot,  but  he  advised  stich  as  could  swim 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAll. 


245 


to  jump  overboard  and  make  for  shore.  Some  reached  it,  some 
were  taken  by  the  enemy,  and  some  perished  in  the  attempt; 
but  most  of  this  loyal  and  gallant  crew  preferred  sharing  the 
fate  of  their  ship  and  their  commander. 

Those  who  remained  on  board  now  endeavoured  to  extin- 
guish the  flames,  and  having  succeeded,  went  again  to  the 
guns,  and  kept  up  a  firing  for  a  few  minutes;  but  the  crew  had 
by  this  time  become  so  weakened,  that  all  further  resistance 
was  in  vain.  Captain  Porter  summoned  a  consultation  of  the 
officers  of  divisions,  but  was  surprised  to  find  only  acting  lieu- 
tenant Stephen  Decatur  M'Knight  'remaining;  of  the  others, 
some  had  been  killed,  others  knocked  overboard,  and  others 
carried  below  disabled  by  severe  wounds.  The  accounts  froi.. 
every  part  of  the  ship  were  deplorable  in  the  extreme;  re- 
presenting her  in  the  most  shattered  and  crippled  condition,  in 
imminent  danger  of  sinking,  and  so  crowded  with  the  wound- 
ed, that  even  the  birth-deck  could  contain  no  more,  and  many- 
were  killed  while  under  the  surgeon's  hands.  In  the  mean 
while  the  enemy,  in  consequence  of  the  smoothness  of  the  wa- 
ter and  his  secure  distance,  was  enabled  to  keep  up  a  delibe- 
rate and  constant  fire,  aiming  with  coolness  and  certainty  as  if 
firing  at  a  target,  and  hitting  the  hull  at  every  shot.  At  length, 
utterly  despairing  of  saving  the  ship,  captain  Porter  was  com- 
pelled, at  20  minutes  past  6,  P.  M.  to  give  t'le  painful  order 
to  strike  the  colours.  It  is  probable  that  the  enemy  did  not 
perc«ive  that  the  ship  had  surrendered,  tor  he  continued  firing; 
several  men  were  killed  and  wounded  in  diffrrent  parts  of  the 
ship,  and  captain  Porter,  thinking  he  intended  to  show  no 
quarter,  was  about  to  rehoist  his  flag  and  to  fight  until  he 
sunk,  when  the  enemy  desisted  his  attack  ten  minutes  after 
the  surrender. 

The  loss  on  board  the  Essex  was  58  killed,  39  wounded  se- 
verely, 27  slightly,  and  31  missing.  The  Ibss  on  board  the 
British  vessels  was  5  killed  and  10  wounded. 

Thousands  of  the  inhabitants  of  Valparaiso  were  spectators 
of  the  battle,  covering  the  neighbouring  heights:  for  it  was 
fought  so  near  the  shore,  that  some  of  the  shot  even  struck 
among  the  citizens,  who,  in  the  eagerness  of  iheir  curiosity, 
had  ventured  down  upon  the  beach.  Touched  by  the  forlorn 
situation  of  the  Essex,  and  filled  with  adnm-ation  at  the  un- 
flagging spirit  and  persevering  bravery  of  her  commander  and 
crew,  a  generous  anxiety  ran  throughout  the  multitude  for 
their  fate:   bursts  of  delight  arose  when,  by  any  vicissitude  of 

battle,    or  nrnrnnt    pvnprlipnf.    o  «^honr'^    oat^m^A    t-^   ♦....«  .,.,  :^ 

their  favour;  and  the  eager  spectators  were  seen  to  wrin^  their 


■M6 


HISTORY    OF  THE  WAR. 


hands,  j^nd  uttered  groans  of  sympathy,  when  the  transient 
liope  was  defeated,  and  the  gallant  little  frigate  once  more  be- 
came an  unresisting  object  of  deliberate  slaughter. 

Though,  from  the  distance  and  positions  which  the  enemy 
chose,  this  battle  was  chiefly  fought  on  Porter's  p>art  by_six 
twelve-pounders  only,  yet  great  damage  was  done  to  the  as- 
sailing ships.  Their  masts  and  yards  were  badly  crippled, 
their  hulls  much  cut  up;  the  Phoebe,  especially,  received  18 
twelve  pound  shot  below  her  water  line,  some  three  feet  un- 
der watQr.  It  was  with  some  difficulty  that  the  Phoebe  and  the 
Essex  could  be  kept  afloat  until  they  anchored  the  next  morn- 
ing in  the  port  of  Valparaiso. 

Captain  Porter  and  his  crew  were  paroled,  and  permitted  to 
return  to  the  United  States  in  the  Essex  Junior,  her  armament 
being  previously  taken  out.  On  arriving  off*  the  port  of  New 
York,  they  were  overhauled  by  the  Saturn  razee,  the  authori- 
ty of  commodore  Hillyar  to  grant  a  passport  was  questioned, 
and  the  Essex  Junior  detained.  Captmn  Porter  then  told  the 
boarding-officer  that  he  gave  up  his  parole,  and  considered 
himself  a  prisoner  of  war,  and  as  such  should  use  all  means  of 
escape.  In  consequence  of  this  threat  the  Essex  Junior  was 
ordered  to  remain  all  night  under  the  lee  of  the  Saturn,  but 
the  next  morning  captain  Porter  put  off*  in  his  boat,  though 
thii-ty  miles  from  shore;  and,  notwithstanding  he  was  pursu- 
ed by  the  Saturn,  effected  his  escape,  and  landed  safely  on 
Long  Island.  The  Essex  Junior  was,  however,  released*  and 
arrived  shortly  after  in  New  York. 

The  small  party  left  with  lieutenant  Gamble  in  charge  of 
the  prizes  at  Madison's  island,  met  with  a  series  of  misfor- 
tunes, which  eventuated  in  the  loss  of  all  the  vessels,  and  the 
breaking  up  of  the  establishment.  Hardly  had  tht  Essex  got 
clear  of  the  islands,  before  a  hostile  disposition  was  discovered 
in  the  natives;  and  in  a  few  days  they  became  so  insolent,  that 
Gamble  conceived  it  to  be  absolutely  necessary  to  land  his  men 
to  recover  by  force  of  arms  the  articles  they  had  stolen  from 
his  encampment,  and  to  deter  them  from  putting  their  threats 
into  execution.  Fortunately  this  was  accomplished  without 
the  firing  of  a  musket,  and  a  perfect  amity  was  kept  up  for  se- 
veral months  afterwards. 

On  the  9th  of  May,  while  Gamble  was  preparing  to  depart 
for  Valparaiso,  an  attack  was  made  on  his  ship  by  the  natives. 
His  numbers  had  been  previously  reduced  by  desertion,  and 
by  a  mutiny,  which  ended  in  the  escape  of  the  mutineers  in  one 
of  the  prizes.  After  suff'ering  a  severe  loss  in  the  scuffle  with 
Xht;  native^,  a  breeze  fortunately  sprung  up,  which  enabled  tUe 


HISTORY  OP  THE  WAR. 


Q47 


party  to  leave  the  bay.  It  being  now  reduced  to  eight  souls, 
not  more  than  three  of  whom  were  effective,  it  was  impracti- 
cable to  reach  Valparaiso,  which  lay  to  windward.  Gamble 
therefore  steered  for  the  Sandwich  islands,  where  he  was  cap- 
tured by  the  Cherub  sloop  of  war. 

The  cruize  of  the  Essex  in  the  Pacific  ocean  will  ever  fonn 
©ne  of  the  most  memorable  events  in  the  history  of  our  coun- 
try; and  posterity  will  hesitate  whether  most  to  admire  the 
wisdom  which  devised,  or  the  energy  which  carried  it  into 
execution.  With  a  single  ship,  ill  appointed  for  such  a  cruize. 
Porter  boldly  braved  the  terrors  of  the  tempestuous  cape,  and 
by  his  successful  intrepidity  cut  off  the  whole  of  the  valuable 
commerce  of  the  enemy  in  those  waters,  where  Great  Bri- 
tain never  dreamt  that  an  American  frigate  .irould  dare  to  make 
her  appearance.  For  twelve  months  Porter  lorced  it  over  the 
Pacific,  at  the  head  of  a  little  squadron  of  his  own  formatioh, 
without  any  expense  to  iiis  country,  his  ships  being  fitted  out, 
and  furnished  with  provisions  and  stores  solely  from  the  fruits 
of  his  enterprise.  Numerous  ships  were  sent  io  the  Pacific  in 
pursuit  of  him,  others  were  ordered  to  cruize  in  the  China  seas, 
off  New  Zealand,  Timor,  and  New  Holland,  and  a  frigate  sent 
to  the  river  La  Plata.  These  vessels,  it  is  said,  were  ordered 
to  effect  his  destruction  without  respect  to  the  neutrality  of 
any  port  in  which  he  might  have  taken  shelter,  an  oi-der  which 
%vas  faithfully  executed  by  commodore  Hillyar,  notwithstand- 
ing the  honourable  example  set  him  by  captain  Porter.  The 
The  gallant  defence  of  the  Essex  adds  another  laurel  to  the 
wreath  which  encircles  our  seamen,  and,  as  was  officially  ac- 
knowledged by  commodore  Hillyar,  «  did  honour  to  her  brave 
defenders,  and  most  fully  evinced  the  courage  of  captain  Por- 
ter, and  those  under  his  command." 

Meanwhile  the  remainder  of  our  little  navy  continued  to 
make  every  sea  the  theatre  of  their  exploits.  No  more  fri- 
gates, it  is  true,  were  added  to  the  list  of  our  naval  triumphs; 
ior,  taught  by  sad  experience,  strict  orders  were  issued  by  the 
liritish  admiralty  to  their  frigates,  to  avoid  encounters  with 
those  of  the  United  States,  and  indeed  they  were  seldom  allow- 
ed to  put  to  sea  alone.  Six  s»»»mjs  of  war,  however  were  cap- 
tured; the  Epervier  by  the  Peacock,  the  'Reincicer  and  Avon 
by  the  Wasp,  the  Penguin  by  the  Hornet,  and  the  Cyane  aacl 
Levant  by  tlie  Constitution  frigate.  The  loss  of  the  American 
navy  at  sea  was  two  sloops  of  war  and  the  President  fi-iffate, 
each  of  them  by  an  overwhelming  force. 

■  he  blockade  ot  the  American  coast,  which  nominaily  ex- 
tended from  Rhode  Island  to  the  Mississipj)i,  was,  on  the  25th 


I 


248 


HISTORY   or  THE  WAK. 


of  April,  1814,  extended  to  every  port  of  the  United  States.-— 
But  neither  our  public  nor  our  private  cruizers  were  to  be  de- 
terred from  proceeding  to  sea  by  those  paper  blockades.  An 
astonishing  havoc  was  committed  upon  the  English  commerce, 
not  only  in  the  high  seas,  but  on  the  coasts  of  Great  Britain, 
in  her  channels,  and  even  in  the  very  mouths  of  her  harbours. 
Such  was  the  uneasiness  and  alarm  created  by  the  numerous 
captures  by  the  Americans,  that  for  a  while  insurance  could 
not  be  effected  at  all  to  distant  ports,  and  even  for  from  Eng- 
land to  Ireland,  a  few  hours  sail,  a  premium  of  five  guineas 
per.  cent  was  demanded. 

The  admiralty  were  besieged  with  memorials  from  the  mer- 
cantile cities,  and  from  the  insurance  offices;  but  they  acknow- 
ledged the  remedy  to  be  beyond  their  power.  In  answer  to 
numerous  remonstances  on  this  subject,  it  was  officially  stated 
by  Mr.  Croker,  that  an  ample  force  had  been  under  the  orders 
of  the  admirals  on  the  different  stations,  and  that  during  the 
time  when  the  American  depredations  were  stated  to  have 
taken  place  in  St.  George's  channel,  not  fewer  than  three  fri- 
gates and  fourteen  sloops  of  war  were  actually  at  sea  for  its 
protection. 

The  achievements  of  the  American  privateers  have  in  many 
instances  rivalled  those  of  our  public  vessels;  and  we  regret 
that  our  limits  have  hitherto  prevented  us  from  paying  them 
the  attention  they  deserve.  It  would  be  improper,  howeVtr, 
to  pass  over  the  gallant  defence  of  the  Generel  Armstrong,  by 
captain  Reid  and  his  brave  crew,  in  the  port  of  Fayal.  This  ac- 
tion forms  but  one  out  of  the  many  instances  in  which  the  Bri- 
tish commanders  have  set  at  nought  the  rights  of  neutrality, 
by  the  capture  of  American  vessels  in  friendly  ports;  but  in 
none  has  it  been  effected  at  such  an  expense  of  blood  to  the 
Violators. 

,  On  the  the  26th  of  September,  about  dusk,  while  the  Gener- 
al Armstrong  lay  at  anchor  in  Fayal  harbour  the  British  brig 
Caraation  hove  in  sight  within  gun-shot,  and  no  sooner  did  she 
understand  the  character  of  the  privateer,  than  aiie  hauled 
close  in  and  let  go  her  anchor  within  pistol  shot  of  her.  At  the 
same  time  the  Plantagenet  74,  and  the  frigate  Rota  hove  in 
sight,  arid  after  an  interchange  of  signals  between  them  and  the 
Carnation,  the  latter  threw  oui  all  her  boats,  and  appeared  to 
be  making  unusual  exertions.  The  moon  being  near  its  full 
enabled  captain  Reid  to  observe  these  movements,  which  de- 
termined him  to  haul  in  nearer  to  the  shore.  Accordingly  after 
fipQi'ji-ijv  fov  action-  he  yot  '.tnder  wa^»  anri  l-ifo-an  tn  cwpph  ii 


'J ' 


'P 


The  moment  this  was  percciv<;d  by  the  Carnation,  she  cut  her 


mSTOKt  OF  THE  WAR: 


249 


I  States.—. 
B  to  be  de- 
ades.  An 
:ommerce, 
!at  Britain, 
'  harbours, 
numerous 
ance  could 
from  Eng- 
ve  guineas 

n  the  m.er- 
jy  acknow- 

answer  to 
ally  stated 
the  orders 
luring  the 
;d  to  have 
,  three  fri- 

sea  for  its 

ve  in  many 
we  regret 
.ying  them 
,  however, 
istrong,  by 
I.  This  ac- 
;h  the  Bri- 
neutrality, 
rts;  but  in 
lood  to  the 

;he  Gener- 
ritish  brig 
ler  did  she 
iie  hauled 
r.  At  the 
ta  hove  in 
3m  and  the 
Dpeared  to 
ear  its  full 
which  de- 
ingly  after 

I  «i\irf»f>i"»  in 
I 

(he  cut  her 


cable,  made  sail,  and  dipatched  four  boats  in  pursuit  well  man- 
ned and  armed.  On  approaching  the  Armstrong,  the  boats 
were  repeatedly  hailed  by  captain  Rcid,  but  they  made  no  an- 
swer, and  only  pulled  with  the  greater  speed.  A  fire  was 
therefore  opened  upon  them,  which  was  immediately  return- 
ed; but  the  boats  soon  cried  for  quarter,  and  hauled  off.  They 
then  fled  to  their  ships,  and  prepared  for  a  second  and  more 
formidable  attack:  the  prirateer,  in  the  mean  time,  was  anchor- 
ed within  half  cable's  length  of  the  shore,  and  within  half  pis- 
tol shot  of  the  castle. 

At  9  o'clock  the  Carnation  was  observed  towing  in  a  fleet  of 
boats  from  the  74  and  frigate.  They  soon  after  left  her,  and 
took  their  station  in  three  divisions,  under  cover  of  a  small  reef 
of  ix)cks,  within  about  musket  shot  of  the  General  Armstrong, 
where  they  continued  to  manoeuvre  for  some  time,  the  Carna- 
tion keeping  under  way  to  act  with  the  boats,  in  case  the  priva- 
teer should  attempt  to  escape.  At  length,  about  midnight,  the 
boats  were  observed  in  motion,  coming  on  in  one  direct  line, 
in  close  or^'r,  to  the  number  of  12  or  14,  manned  as  was  af- 
terwards learnt,  by  400  men.  A  severe  conflict  ensued,  which 
lasted  near  forty  minutes,  and  terminated  in  the  total  defeat  and 
partial  destruction  of  the  boats,  with  an  immense  slaughter  on 
the  part  of  the  British. 

During  these  attacks  the  shores  were  lined  with  inhabitants, 
who,  from  the  brightness  of  the  moon,  had  a  favourable  view 
of  the  scene.     The  governor,  with  most  of  the  first  people  of 
the  place,  stood  by,  and  saw  the  whole  aff'air.     After  the  se- 
cond attack  a  note  was  sent  from  the  governor  to  captain  Lleyd, 
of  the  Plantagenct,  who  commanded  the  British  squadron,  beg- 
ging him  to  desist  from  further  hostilities;  but  Lloyd  answer- 
ed, that  he  was  now  determined  to  have  the  privateer,  at  the 
risk  of  knocking  down  the  whole  town;  and  that  if  the  govern- 
or suffered  the  Americans  to  injure  the  privateer  in  any  maii- 
ner,  he  should  consider  the  place  an  enemy's  port,  and  treat  it 
accordingly.    Information  to  this  eff'ect  being  conveyed  to  cap- 
tain Reid  by  the  American  consul,  the  wounded  and  dead  were 
carried  on  shore,  and  the  crew  ordered  to  save  their  effects  as 
fast  as  possible. 

About  day -light  the  Carnation  stood  close  in  to  the  Arm- 
strong, and  commenced  a  heavy  fire;  but  after  several  broad- 
jiides,  she  hauled  off",  having  received  a  shot  in  her  hull,  her 
rigging  much  cut,  and  her  fore-topmast  wounded.  She  soon 
after  came  in  again,  however,  and  anchored  close  to  the  pri- 
\'ateer-  when  cantain  Reld_  ordered  his  crew  to  scuttle  and 
abandon  the  vessel,  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  getting  her  off. 

Y 


:5a 


HISroKY   Ol*  THE  WAK. 


she  was  soon  afterwards  boarded  by  the  cneniy*s  boats,  and 
set  fire  to. 

The  loss  of  the  Americans  in  this  affair  was  only  two  killed 
and  seven  wounded;  the  British  had  120  killed  and  130  wound- 
ed. Several  houses  in  the  town  were  destroyed  by  the  ene- 
my's shot,  and  some  of  the  inhabitants  wounded.     Two  Brit- 

*ish  sloops  of  war  arrived  a  few  days  after,  which  were  imme- 
diately taken  into  requisition  to  carrjiithe  wounded  to  England. 
In  this  situation  stood  affairs  when  a  treaty  of  peace  was 
agreed  upon  by  the  commissioners  of  the  tw\  nations  at  Ghent. 
After  a  tedious  procrastination  on  the  part  of  the  British  gov- 
ernment, the  negociation  was  commenced  by  the  British  com- 

_|nissioners  bringing  forward  demands  which  could  only  have 
been  acceded  to  by  a  degraded  and  conquered  people,  one  of 
which  was  declared  to  be  a  sine  qua  non;  and  that,  after  find- 
ing that  the  only  effect  produced  by  these  deniands  was  the 
union  of  the  whole  American  people  to  resist  them,  they  were 
all  withdrawn,  and  a  treaty  agreed  on,  simply  placing  the  po- 
litical rights'  and  territories  of  the  two  nations  dn  the>  same 
footing  as  previous  to  the  war.  It  was  signed  at  Ghent  on  the 
24th  of  December,  and  soon  after  ratified  by  the  prince  re- 
gent. It  received  its  final  ratification  by  the  president  on  the 
1 8.th  of  February,  1815. 

This  treaty  was  generally  satisfactory  to  the  American  peo- 
ple, for,  though  it  left  the  great  questions  of  impressment  and 
illegal  blockades  unsettled,  it  was  believed,  that  the,  respect 
which  the  victories  of  the  navy  had  inspired  towards  the  Ame- 
rican flag,  would  prevent  a  repetition  of  those  outrages  which 
precede^  the  war.  The  might)  changes  which  had  taken 
place  in  Europe  were  believed  to  have  the  same  tendency,  by 
removing  many  of  the  pretexts  on  which  these  outrages  were 
founded. 

But  although  the  peace  with  America  was  also  a  genertvl 
subject  bf  joy  ax  Great  Britain,  much  dissatisfaction  was  ex- 
cited on  the  publication  of  the  terms.  The  treaty  formed,  in- 
deed, a  deplorable  contrast  with  the  high-sounding  threats  and 
boasts  of  the  ministry  but  a  few  months  before;  and  after  the 
demands  which  had  been  brought  forward,  it  was  conceived 
that  it  coliiiui'iiiaatca  the  humiliation  of  the  British  ministry*. 


*  The  fiublic  stocks  ex/ierienced  a  considerable  defiression  on 
the  fiubUcation  of  the  treaty ^  it  being  coyiceived,  that  nothing 


}^ 


aioned  the  disgraceful  comjiromise,  as  the  treaty  ivas  called  bij 


HISTORY    or  THE  WAR. 


2il 


reasion  on 


On  an  address  being  moved  in  the  house  of  commons  congra- 
tulating the  prince  regent  on  the  re-establishment  of  peace,  an 
amendment  was  moved,  which,  though  it  was  not  carried,  shows 
in  a  striking  manner  the  sentiments  of  a  great  part  of  the  na- 
tion. The  amendment  proposed  that  the  following  should  bu 
substituted  for  the  original  address. 

« To  assure  his  royal  highness  that  we  contemplate  with 
great  satisfaction  the  reslMation  of  a  state  of  peace  and  amity 
between  his  majesty  and  the  United  States  of  North  America; 
but  we  should  deem  ourselves  highly  deficient  in  the  discharge 
of  our  duty  towards  his  majesty  and  his  people,  were  we  not 
to  express  to  his  royal  highness  our  deepest  regret,  that  a  mea- 
sure so  necessary  to  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  his  majes- 
ty's dominions,  was  not  sooner  accomplished:  that  in  review- 
ing the  terms  of  thp-treaty  which  his  royal  highness  has  been 
graciously  pleased  to  lay  before  us,  we  are  at  a  loss  to  discover 
what  were  the  causes  which  so  long  retarded  its  conclusion: 
that,  hi  our  opinion,  the  honour  of  his  msjesty's  crown,  and 
the  inaerests  of  his  people,  both  required  that  as  soon  as  the 
peace  of  Europe  had  been  established  by  the  treaty  signed  at 
Paris,  on  the  8th  day  of  May,  in  the  last  year,  the  speediest  and 
most  eflectual  measures  should  have  been  adopted  for  thejie- 
gociation  of  a  treaty  of  peace  with  the  United  States  of  North 
America;  that  the  complete  and  entire  cessation  of  hostilities 
in  ipurope  had  removed  or  suspended  the  operation  of  the 
causes,  which  had  occasioned  or  accompanied  the  late  war  be- 
tween his  majesty  and  the  United  States;  that  the  ejevated  and 
commanding  staiion  which    the   united    kingdom  then  held 
amongst  the  nations  of  the  world  would  have  rendered  the  nian- 
ifestation  of  a  sincere  wish  for  the  pstoration'  of  the  blessings 
of  peace  with  the  United  States  highly  honourable  to  his  ma- 
jesty's counsels;  and  would  have  afforded  the  government  and 
people  of  America  the  most  unequivocal  proofs  of  the  gene- 
rosity and  magnanimity  of  the  British  nation;  of  a  sincere  de- 
sire to  bury  in  lasting  oblivion  the  recollection  of  that  hostili- 
ty which  then  unhappily  subsisted,  and  of  its  anxious  wish  for 
the  re-estublishment  of  peace  upon  terms  honourable  and  ad- 
vantageous to  both  countries,  and  likely  to  Insure  its  own  per- 
manancy  by  the  justice  and  liberality  of  its ''conditions:  that  we 
are  the  more  deeply  afflicted  by  the  long  and  (as  we  deem  it) 
unnecessary  delay  in  the  conclusion  of  peice,  when  we  reflect 
upon  the  great  and  incomparable  injury  his  majesty  and  hi» 
people  have  sustained,  by  the  unnecessary  and  unprofitable 
w3Hte  of  treasure,  by  the  loss  of  so  many  diiitinguished  and 
heroic  officer^  and  of  such  numbers  of  brave,  loyal,  and  expe- 


2S2 


IIISTOUV    OF  THE   WAR. 


II 


rienced  troops;  and  we  most  deeply  lament  that  these  ciil^^_ 
tics  aheuld  be  aggravated  by  mortifying  reflctioiis,  thsrt  the 
fame  of  the  British  arms  may  appear  to  be  diminished  by  the 
*^^'''  ''  the  latest  military  enterprizes  of  the  war.  That  it 
■t\i^-d'i  uj,  however,  consolation  to  finch  that  peace  is  at  length 
:  tjUvijlished;  and  to  assure  his  royal  hi^ifhtiess,  that  it  is  the 
earnest  wish  and  desire  of  this  house  to  cultiviite  and  mainta  i 
the  most  cordial  and  intimate  unioiUlpith  the  government  and 
people  of  the  United  States. 

"  That  we  relv  unon  his  royal  highness's  wisdom  and  good- 
ness to  cl'  iah  and  preserve  the  most  frieridly  relations  be- 
tween them  and  his  majesty's  subjects;  and  we  confidently 

■^rust,  that  a  corresponding  disposition  in  the  government  and 
the  pople  of  the  United  States,  will  enable  his  royal  highness 
to  continue  unimpaired,  and  undisturbed,  the  harmony  now  so- 

.happily  restored  between  ihem^  anJ  that  i'^^  two  freest  nations 
in  the  world  may  exhibit  to  mairkind  tbcjL;  ul  spectacl'-  of 
mutual  confidence  and  lasting  peace.        W' 

Th')  txilerience  oi  the  war  has  taut,'ht  iwmany  Useful  les- 
sons, which  it  is  to  hoped  our  statesmen  wiB  not  suffer  to  pass 
without  profit.  We  have  learnt  that  a  large  and  efficient  e- 
venue,  not  vulnerable  from  abroad,  is  essential  to  it .  success- 
ful conduct;  and  that  a  dependence  on  loans  for  the  civ-ira  ex- 
pences  of  war  is  fatal  and  ruinous. 

We  have  learnt  that  a  navy  is  not  only  the  best  and. cheapest, 
but  the  only  effeptual  defence  against  the  invasion  of  a  coast 
so  extensive  as  that  of  the  United  Statvs;.that  a  navy  is  pe- 
culiarly suited  to  the  genius  of  our  country;  and,  that,  as  it 
cannot  posjiibly  o  danger  our  republican  institutions,  its  size- 
ought  to  keep  pai  c  with  our  means  of  suppoi  ing  it. 

We  have  also  seen  the  advantages  and  defects  oi  om*  militia 
system;,  -and  the  necessity  that  exists  for  more  cleai  ly  deter- 

♦mining  the  powers  of  the  general  government  on  this  and  on 

•other  important  questions.     It  is  tabe  hoped  tliat  the  present, 
period  qf  unexampled  harmony  will  not  be  suffered  to  pass 
unimproved*. 


I 


*  By  the  ar tidied f  confederation^  the  states  a/i/iointed  the 
iee0mentttl  officers,  the  general  gox^emment  the  field  and  gene 
rat  oj^cers.    Is  there  any  solid  objection  lo  this  filant 


m 


theBC  caliMlR!- 
oiis,  that  the 
lished  by  the 
kvar.  That  it 
e  is  at  length 
that  it  1%  the 
and  mainta  i 
'crnmeut  and 

am  and  good- 
relations  be- 
e  confidently 
'^ernment  and 
lyal  highness 
mony  now  so- 
freest  nations 
1  spectacJ'-  of 

ly  Useful  Ics- 
suffer  to  ,>ass 
1  cfRcient    e- 

0  it^  success- 
the  c:>:.ira  ex- 

ind.  cheapest, 
oh  of  a  coast 

1  navy  is  pe- 
:l,  that,  as  it 
ions,  its  size- 

:it. 

ot  onr  militia 
;leajiy  deter- 
n  this  and  on 
t  the  present . 
'ered  to  pass 


xfifiointed  the 
'Id  and  gene 
'.ant 


